American workers quit their jobs at near-record highs amid "brutal battle" to hire

Americans continue to quit at near record highs, with 4.4 million people handing in their resignations last month, according to new government data. At the same time, employers had 11.3 million job openings in February, just shy of a December record of 11.4 million openings. 

The data signals that the job market remains tight, with employers engaged in a "brutal battle" for low-wage workers, said Ron Hetrick, senior economist at Emsi Burning Glass, in a Tuesday call to discuss the Labor Department data.

Many people are taking advantage of numerous opportunities to switch jobs, often for higher pay. The vast majority of those quitting do so to take another position.