Companies Hang on to their Workers, and Workers Cling to their Jobs: One More Factor why it’s Tough for Job Seekers

Job openings fell in December. But “quits” – a sign of confidence in the labor force – rose for the second month in a row to the most since June; and hires jumped. Layoffs and discharges undid part of the plunge in November and remained historically low. These are signs of slowing churn in the labor force.