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Gallup’s June Job Creation Index remained equal to May’s reading of 22, the highest level since April 2008. The index for nongovernment jobs rose from a reading of 24 in May to 25 in June, roughly parallel with the score from June of last year. The index is based on telephone polling of employees who are asked whether their employers are hiring or firing workers.

The largest decline came in federal government employment, which posted an index reading of -5, a little better than the -7 reading in May. The federal government has not posted a positive index reading since early 2011. State and local government job creation indexes remain positive, with readings of 12 and 11, respectively.

Gallup notes:

U.S. workers have been slightly more positive about their workplace hiring conditions in May and June than they were earlier this year. This aligns with Americans’ broader views of national economic conditions, which have hit five-year highs in recent months. The improvements are small, to be sure, but enough to maintain the long-term recovery in the index …

Gallup’s Job Creation Index is now very close to its initial reading of 26 in January of 2008.