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US Job Openings Near 13-Year High, Hiring Rises

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of U.S. job openings remained near the highest level in 13 years in July, and companies also stepped up hiring that month to the fastest pace in nearly seven years, two signs the job market is slowly healing.

The Labor Department says that available jobs ticked down 2,000 to 4.67 million in July. The drop was led by a decline in government job postings. Businesses actually posted slightly more jobs.

Total hiring jumped 81,000 to 4.87 million, the highest level since December 2007, when the recession began. That indicates that companies are more likely to fill their open jobs.

The report, known as the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey or JOLTS, provides a more detailed look at the job market than the monthly employment report.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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