The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell to an 11-month low last week, pointing to a stable labor market, though a slowdown in hiring has led some laid-off workers to experience long bouts of joblessness.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report, from the Labor Department on Tuesday also showed layoffs remained low and workers were reluctant to quit their jobs. There were 1.13 job openings for every unemployed person,

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,