From last month, job openings have grown 4.5 percent while theyhave grown 9.9 percent year over year, according to the August 2012Employment Outlook by job site Simply Hired.

The research also finds that nationwide job competition measuresat three unemployed job seekers for every one job opening.

"With nationwide job openings increasing for the third month ina row, we see an improved outlook for those who are unemployed,"says Gautam Godhwani, co-founder and CEO of Simply Hired."While there is uncertainty with the nation's slow growing economyand whether the Federal Reserve may stimulate it in the comingmonths, it's clear that companies across the U.S. are looking tohire in the meantime."

Job openings grew in each of the 50 major metros for the secondconsecutive month, the research finds. Of the largest increases areGrand Rapids, Mich., at 9 percent and Cleveland and Salt LakeCity at 8 percent. Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Houstonexperienced slightly better job competition, as well.

Of the 18 industries, 14 reported more job in July withhospitality at 11 percent and nonprofit at 9 percent, representingthe largest amount of growth while industries that offered fewerjob openings are retail at minus 6 percent and construction, mediaand manufacturing each at minus 2 percent, the research shows.

Occupations that underwent the largest growth in job openingsare law enforcement, fire and safety at 15.8percent and engineers at 14.1 percent. The only occupation thatfaced a consecutive decline is educators at minus 2 percent, theresearch shows. Among the top hiring companies are healthcare-related, and then technology and financial companies.