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Openings, Hires Below Pre-Recession Levels

February 08, 2011

U.S. job openings fell by 4.3 percent in December from November, but were still up 21.0 percent from December 2009, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Despite rising to 3.06 million in December, the number of job openings was still down from the 4.4 million openings when the recession began in December 2007.

The job openings rate -- a measure of job openings compared with total employment -- was 2.3 percent in December. That's down 10 basis points from November, but up 40 basis points from December 2009.

Hires fell by 0.7 percent in December compared to November, but they were up 4.7 percent from December 2009. Hires totaled 4.18 million in December; that compares to 5.0 million hires at the start of the recession in December 2007.

Total separations rose by 0.2 percent in December from November, but were down 0.8 percent from December 2009. Separations include involuntary losses of jobs as well as voluntary departures from jobs such as quits and retirements.

Job Openings, Hires and Separations for December 2010 (Seasonally Adjusted)
(000s)              
  December 2009 November 2010 December 2010 m/m change m/m% change y/y change y/y % change
Job openings 2,531 3,202 3,063 -139 -4.3% 532 21.0%
Hires 3,997 4,214 4,184 -30 -0.7% 187 4.7%
Total separations 4,195 4,154 4,162 8 0.2% -33 -0.8%
Rates              
Job openings 1.9% 2.4% 2.3% -10 bps - +40 bps -
Hires 3.1% 3.2% 3.2% 0 bps - +10 bps -
Total separations 3.2% 3.2% 3.2% 0 bps - 0 bps -
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; bps=basis points