Job openings hit 14-year high

ASSOCIATED PRESS: The Labor Department said job openings rose 3.7 percent in December.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS: The Labor Department said job openings rose 3.7 percent in December.

That is the most since January 2001. Total hires also increased 1.9 percent to 5.1 million, the most in more than seven years.

The number of quits rose 2.1 percent to 2.7 million. More quits are a sign of confidence in the labor market, because people typically quit when they have another job lined up, usually at higher pay, or are optimistic that they can find a new position.