WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised more jobs in May than April, a hopeful sign after three months of weak hiring.

Job openings rose to a seasonally adjusted 3.6 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That's up from 3.4 million in April. It's also the second-highest level in nearly four years, just behind March's 3.7 million.

Still, layoffs also increased, an indication that the job market is still struggling.

A rise in openings could mean hiring will pick up in the coming months. It typically takes one to three months to fill a job.

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