Job vacancies in Kansas rose 5.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from the same period last year, and state officials say the increase is a sign of an improving economy.

The state Department of Labor reports nearly 38,000 jobs remained vacant during April, May and June, compared with about 36,000 during the second quarter of 2012.

The state had 2.8 vacancies for every 100 jobs in the second quarter this year, compared with 2.7 percent during the same period last year. Labor Secretary Lana Gordon says the slight uptick shows that employers are confident enough to add workers.

The report also says the number of unemployed Kansans for each vacancy was 2.2 in the second quarter, down slightly from 2.5 a year earlier.