Employers hung out more help-wanted signs in November than economists had expected, as the job market unexpectedly rebounded.

U.S. job openings unexpectedly increased in November, but a softening in hiring pointed to a slowing labor market.

Fewer people quit their jobs in November while total job openings in the United States were down more than 800,000 from the same time in 2023, the Labor Department said in their latest report.

Openings rose to 8.1 million in November, the most since February and up from 7.8 million in October, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. They were down from 8.9 million a year earlier and a peak of 12.2 million in March 2022 as the economy was roaring back from COVID-19 lockdowns. But they still exceed pre-pandemic levels.

U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in November, showing companies are still looking for workers even as the labor market has cooled overall. Openings rose to 8.1 million in November from 7.8 million in October,

BLS data shows November job openings surpassing expectations at M, with a revised prior estimate and higher rates of quits.

US job openings rose to a six-month high in November, boosted by a jump in business services while other industries showed more mixed demand for workers.