Stocks opened little changed on Thursday after data showed the labor market was improving but that the overall employment picture remained soft.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was down 4.54 points, or 0.04 percent, at 11,580.84. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was down 0.34 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,259.44. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was down 1.38 points, or 0.05 percent, at 2,665.55.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)