A record 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in September as the sheer volume of available jobs is empowering workers to have their pick.

The nation had 10.4 million open jobs that month as the worker shortage crisis continues, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Friday. It was a modest decrease from the 10.6 million open jobs in August.

Jobs particularly increased in the health care and sector and in state and local government.

Employers hired 6.5 million people, while separations, which include voluntary quits, stood at 6.2 million.

(With input from agencies)