Job openings rates increased in 10 states and the District of Columbia and decreased in 1 state on the last business day of December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Feb. 15. Hires rates increased in four states. Total separations rates increased in seven states and decreased in six states.

Nationally, the job openings rate increased in December while the hires and total separations rates showed little or no change.

The release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, total separations, quits, and layoffs and discharges for the total nonfarm sector and for all states and the District of Columbia.

In December, job openings rates were little changed in 39 states. The largest increases in job openings rates occurred in North Dakota (+1.6 percentage points), as well as in Michigan and Minnesota (+1.3 points each). The decrease occurred in Georgia (-0.6 point). Over the month, the national job openings rate increased (+0.3 point).