US job openings fall to 9.9 million in February

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - US job openings fell to 9.9 million in February, higher than expectations of 10.4 million, according to Labor Department figures released Tuesday.

The number and rate of openings decreased by 632,000 and 6%, respectively, the department said in a statement.

The figure in January stood just above 10.5 million.

There was little movement in the number and rate of hires at 6.2 million and 4%, respectively.

Total separations, which include employees leaving, layoffs and discharges, also remained steady at around 5.8 million, while the rate stood at 3.7%.

Around 4 million workers left their jobs in February, while its rate was 2.6%, according to the figures.

The Labor Department's survey measures job vacancies by collecting data from employers about employment, job openings, hiring and separations.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, considers job openings for all positions that are open or not filled on the last business day of the month when the survey is conducted.