There were 5.0 million job openings on the last business day of November, little changed from 4.8 million in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires (5.0 million) were little changed and separations (4.6 million) declined in November. Within separations, the quits rate (1.9 percent) was unchanged and the layoffs and discharges rate (1.2 percent) was little changed. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the nonfarm sector by industry and by four geographic regions.

There were 5.0 million job openings on the last business day of November. The job openings rate was 3.4 percent. The number of job openings was little changed for total private and increased for government in November. Job openings increased for nondurable goods manufacturing and for state and local government. The number of job openings was little changed in all four regions.

The number of job openings (not seasonally adjusted) increased over the 12 months ending in November for total nonfarm, total private, and government. Job openings increased over the year for many industries, including professional and business services, health care and social assistance, and accommodation and food services. Job openings decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation. The number of openings increased over the year in all four regions.