Job openings rise in several sectors

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Job openings rose in several sectors of the economy in February, including retail, manufacturing, transportation, restaurants and hotels, the Labor Department said Tuesday.

The report is consistent with other surveys showing hiring is picking up in those areas. It also echoes last week’s national employment report, which showed broad job gains in March.

Total job openings, meanwhile, declined in February, the department said. That’s a sign that hiring remains sluggish even though employers are starting to add workers as they gain more confidence that the recovery is taking hold.

The government’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey illustrates the churn that takes place in the job market, even when hiring is weak. Employers posted 2.7 million job openings at the end of February.

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