Investing.com - The number of job openings in the U.S. rose less than expected in November, but remained in territory consistent with an improving labor market as employers actively seek workers, official data showed on Tuesday.
In the release of the monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), the U.S. Labor Department said that the number of job openings, excluding the farming industry, increased to 5.522 million in November from 5.451 million a month earlier, which was revised from the original reading of 5.534 million.
Analysts had expected the number of job openings to rise to 5.555 million.
The report has garnered more attention, as Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen cited the survey when assessing the state of the labor market.
Following the report, which was published simultaneously with the November wholesale inventories, EUR/USD was trading at 1.0599 from around 1.0593 ahead of the release of the data, GBP/USD exchanged hands at 1.2162 compared to 1.2169 previously, while USD/JPY was at 115.56 from 115.61 earlier.
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, was at 101.72, compared to 101.67 ahead of the report.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock markets traded mixed after the open. The Dow 30 fell 0.13%, the S&P 500 lost 0.03%, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.06%.
Elsewhere, in the commodities market, gold futures traded at $1,189.25 a troy ounce, compared to $1,189.85 ahead of the data, while crude oil traded at $51.92 a barrel from $51.95 earlier.