U.S. job openings unexpectedly increased in August after two straight monthly decreases, but hiring was soft and consistent with a slowing labor market that keeps the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates again in November.

The number of available jobs in the US grew in August, signaling an undercurrent of strength in the labor market at a time when its vitals are being carefully monitored by the Federal Reserve.

There were 8 million job openings in August, up from 7.7 million in July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday. It was the first increase in three months and was higher than the 7.7 million forecasters had expected, according to a survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.