Employers posted fewer jobs, but hired more

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WASHINGTON • U.S. employers advertised fewer jobs in July but hired more workers, a mixed sign that suggests only modest improvement in the job market.

The Labor Department says job openings fell 180,000 in July to 3.7 million. That's down from 3.9 million the previous month, which was revised lower.

Overall hiring increased to 4.4 million, up from 4.3 million in June and 4.17 million a year ago.

The job market remains tight. There were 3.1 unemployed people competing for each open job. In a healthy economy the ratio is 2 to 1.

On Friday, the government said employers added 169,000 jobs in August and many fewer in the previous two months. The unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent, but only because more people gave up looking for work.