The number of job openings in the United States rose to a near 13-year high in October, according to the Labor Department’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey.
The jump in job openings is a hopeful sign for both the U.S. economy and the job market.
Employers not in the farming sector had 4.83 million positions waiting to be filled during October, up from 4.69 million in September, according to the Labor Department.
Job openings across the U.S. economy have jumped since April, according to Reuters, and the number of open slots in October was just shy of the 4.85 million jobs available in August, which was the highest reading since 2001.
The report follows the November employment figures, released last Friday, which showed a jump in job creation last month.
—Reuters contributed to this report.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com