U.S. Job Openings Holds at 7.7 Million in October

The number of job openings in the U.S. remained unchanged at 7.7 million in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate also held steady at 4.6%. Hires and total separations were little changed at 5.1 million. The federal government shutdown affected the release of September data, with October estimates collected from partial data that businesses self-reported. Total separations changed slightly, as declines were reported in health care and social assistance (-111,000) and the federal government (-34,000). Quits held at 2.9 million, with notable drops in accommodation and food services (-136,000), health care (-114,000) and federal government (-25,000). Layoffs rose in accommodation and food services (+130,000) and in state and local government excluding education (+23,000). Other separations fell to 255,000.