The number of U.S. jobopenings rose to a record 7.34 million in December, more than 1million more than the total number of unemployedAmericans.

A strong labor market is proving to be blessingfor job switchers as they pocket bigger raises amidrecord openings.

Median wage growth for those who jumped to newpositions picked up to 4.6 percent in January from a year earlier,the fastest pace since October 2007, according to the FederalReserve Bank of Atlanta's Wage Growth Tracker. That compared with3.4 percent for those who haven't switched jobs, though thatmeasure was down from a 10-year high of 3.9 percent reached inNovember.

Related: Millennial women returning to labor market indroves

The tracker for switchersmeasures nominal hourly pay gains for those who moved to adifferent occupation or industry group in the past year, or thosewho have had a different employer or job duties than the priormonth in any of the last three months.

A separate report this week from the Labor Department showedrobust demand for workers: The number of U.S. job openings rose toa record 7.34 million in December, more than 1 million more thanthe total number of unemployed Americans.

Up your hiring game:

• Are you posting job openings where job seekers arelooking?
• 10 ways to reach job seekers in the digitalage
• Are you prepared for job candidates to ask, “Whyshould I work here?”

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