U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (01/10/13)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says job openings held steady at 3.7 million in November from the prior month, and the hires and separations rates of 3.2% and 3.1%, respectively, also were unchanged from October. Job openings rose in retail trade in November but changed little in all other industries, and while nonfarm and private job openings increased, government job openings held steady. During the year-over-year period ending in November, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector saw a decline in the hires rate, but it held steady overall for nonfarm, private, and government sectors. Additionally, the quits rate held steady at 1.6% over the same period, and the layoffs and discharges rate was unchanged at 1.2%. There was a net employment gain of 1.9 million, factoring in 51.7 million hires and 49.9 million separations.