U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (01/17/14)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the number of job openings held steady in November from the previous month at around four million, and the 3.3% hires rate and 3.1% separations rate also were unchanged. In November, there were 4.5 million hires and 4.3 million separations.

The quits rate held steady at 1.8% for total nonfarm employment, 2.0% for total private employment, and 0.6% for government employment in November, while the layoffs and discharges rate held steady at 1.1%. During the year-to-year period, there were 53 million hires and 51 million separations, with a net employment gain of 2 million.