Washington job openings, hiring stronger in 2012

There are more indications of an improving job market and economy in Washington. A state survey shows job vacancies increased by about 35 percent from spring to fall of last year while hiring grew, as well.

Sheryl Hutchison, with Employment Security says the department surveyed employers, who reported more than 190,000 external hires during June through August, a sharp increase from earlier in 2012.

“By seeing more external hires, it means that companies are starting to look outside more, not just promoting from within or holding on to what they’ve got,” she said.

Much of the hiring was seasonal, in agriculture, for example, but one-quarter of the vacancies were new jobs and a majority of the vacancies were for full-time jobs.

“This reports supports other data we have that shows that the economy is continuing to improve,” said Hutchison. “We’ve regained more than half the positions we lost during the recession. We are seeing a decline in unemployment claims.”

The three industries with the most vacancies in the fall were healthcare and social assistance, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting and manufacturing, according to a news release.

The survey found that on average, it took companies 19 days to fill their vacancies. The average hourly starting wage among all industries and occupations was $13.48.