[WASHINGTON] US job openings surged to a record high in July, but a lag in hiring suggested employers were struggling to find qualified workers to fill the positions.

Job openings, a measure of labour demand, increased 228,000 to a seasonally adjusted 5.9 million, the Labour Department said on Wednesday. That was the highest level since the series started in December 2000 and pushed the jobs openings rate to 3.9 per cent in July from 3.8 per cent in June.

Hiring was little changed at 5.2 million in July, keeping the hiring rate steady at 3.6 per cent for a second straight month.

REUTERS