Report: Job Openings Jump 7.6% in January

The U.S. Department of Labor reports the number of job openings in the public and private-sectors increased by 193,000 in January to a seasonally adjusted 2.7 million, which represents a 7.6 percent increase and is the highest level since February 2009.

The job openings rate, which measures available jobs as a percentage of total employment, also rose to 2.1. The hires rate and separations rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.

The biggest increase in job openings came in the health and education sector, according to the report.

Additionally, the number of workers who left their job fell by 73,000 to 4.12 million. Layoffs fell by 159,000 to 1.89 million and the number of people who quit their jobs rose 1.78 million, an increase of 28,000.