By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER
AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON – U.S. employers stepped up their hiring in November but pulled back slightly on the number of jobs they advertised.
The mostly favorable report shows companies are gaining more confidence in the economy and filling more of their open positions. It follows other encouraging data on hiring that suggest 2012 may be a better year for job growth.
Employers filled almost 4.15 million jobs in November, a 3 percent increase from the previous month, the Labor Department said Tuesday. It also nearly matched September’s hiring level, which was the highest since May 2010.