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US job openings edge up in January but hiring falls

March 10, 2015

The number of US job openings in January edged up 2.5% from December to more than 4.9 million, the highest level of job openings since January 2001, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job openings increased for accommodation and food services and in the West region.

The job openings rate — a measure of job openings compared with total employment — fell to 3.3% in January from 3.4% in December.

The number of hires fell 4.6% in January to about 5.0 million; hires decreased over the month in construction and in the Northeast region. The number of separations also edged down 1.6% to approximately 4.8 million.

Effective with this release, revisions to data from January 2010 forward incorporate annual updates to the Current Employment Statistics employment estimates and the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey seasonal adjustment factors.

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