15Mn Americans unemployed in November.   Job openings in the U.S. fell in November - 3rd time in 4 months - signaling a sustained labor market recovery will take time to develop.  Number of positions waiting to be filled fell 80,000, to 3.25 million.    

Fewer Job Openings.  

• Employers added fewer jobs than expected in December - bringing the 2010 total to 1.1 million. 
• Faster job growth is needed to bring down the unemployment rate on a sustained basis and spur consumer spending.

• Job openings decreased 2.4% in November.
• Led by education and health-service providers - combined openings dropped by 91,000.  Retailers fell by 37,000;  state and local government agencies fell by 25,000.

More Openings.  

• Professional and business services - accountants, IT experts, temp agencies, others, had biggest jump in jobs available, followed by manufacturers.
• The number of jobless fell to 14.5 million last month, pushing the unemployment rate down to 9.4 percent, the lowest since May 2009

What Numbers Indicate. 

• There were 4.6 people vying for every opening - way up from 1.8 in December 2007, when recession began, the Labor Department reported last week.

To read complete story, go to:   [Bloomberg, 1/11,"Job Openings in U.S. Decrease..."]