U.S. job openings fell by 5.5 percent in January from December 2010, but were still up 15.0 percent from January 2010, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Total job openings fell by 161,000 in January to approximately 2.8 million, remaining well below 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 2.1 percent in January. That's down 10 basis points from December, but up 30 basis points from January 2010.

Hires fell by 4.9 percent in January compared to December, but they were up 3.5 percent from January 2010. Hires totaled 3.7 million in January; there were 5.0 million hires at the start of the recession in December 2007.

Total separations fell 7.3 percent in January from December, and were down 0.4 percent from January 2010. Separations include involuntary losses of jobs as well as voluntary departures from jobs such as quits and retirements.