WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings surged in February to a 14-year high, yet employers filled fewer of those jobs than in the previous month.
On a brighter note, the Labor Department also said Tuesday that layoffs fell sharply. Taken together, the figures suggest that signs of a stumbling economy have prompted U.S. businesses to pull back on hiring. But they weren’t spooked enough to cut more jobs.
The number of available jobs rose 3.4 percent in February to 5.1 million, the government says, the most since January 2001. That indicates companies want to add staff, and suggests that a slowdown in job gains in March could be temporary.
The government said last week that employers added just 126,000 jobs in March, the fewest in 15 months. Many economists blamed that weak figure on temporary factors, such as harsh winter weather.
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