Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits over the past month than at any time in 14 years as an improving economy prompted employers to hold on to staff.

Job openings in the U.S. climbed to a 13-year high in August as employers gained confidence about the outlook for demand in the world’s biggest economy.

Trucking accounted for 3,800 of the 248,000 jobs added in September, and the unemployment rate declined to 5.9%, the lowest level in six years, the Labor Department reported.

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, a sign the job market is sustaining progress.

Companies hired 213,000 workers in September as the labor market continued to strengthen, a private report based on payrolls showed.

First-time jobless claims climbed 12,000 to 293,000 in the week ended Sept. 20, the Labor Department reported.

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits plunged last week to a two-month low, a sign the labor market continues to strengthen.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to a two-month high, interrupting a steady decrease to the lowest level since before the last recession.

Trucking lost 800 jobs in August as the economy added 142,000 jobs and the unemployment rate declined to 6.1%, the Labor Department reported.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits was little changed last week, near the lowest level in seven years as employers held on to staff in an improving economy.