US job openings jump to second highest ever level

US job openings surged past expectations in September to reach their second highest level since records began, data released on Thursday showed.

According to figures released by the Labor Department, job openings rose from 5.38m in August to 5.53m in September, comfortably beating expectations for a 5.40m reading.

The quits rate - a crucial gauge of consumer confidence as it tracks the willingness to look for another job - held steady at 1.9% for the sixth consecutive month, while the hiring rate ticked down slightly to 3.6%.