Unexpectedly, job openings in the U.S. increased in December according to a report issued by the Labor Department this past Tuesday. The Department indicated that job openings climbed to 9.03 million from a previously upped estimate of 8.93 million in November.
Contrary to economic forecasts, job openings did not decline to 8.75 million; instead, they surpassed the 8.79 million initially reported for November. The report revealed a minor change in the number of hires and total separations, tallying at 5.6 million and 5.4 million, respectively.
Likewise, the number of resignations and layoffs - components of total separations - remained relatively constant at 3.4 million and 1.6 million respectively.
