WASHINGTON (Reuters] – U.S. job postings rose to a record in March, as workers shortages continued. It suggests that employers might continue to increase wages and keep inflation high.

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job openings, which are a measure for labor demand, increased by 205,000 to 11.5million on the final day of March in its Monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (or JOLTS) report.

This was the second consecutive monthly rise in job openings, the highest since 2000 when the series began. Reuters polled economic experts and predicted 11 million vacancies.

Federal Reserve officials are closely monitoring the JOLTS data. They have taken a tough monetary policy position to combat skyrocketing inflation. Consumer prices continue to rise at rates not seen since 40 years ago.

Last week, the government announced that American worker compensation saw its greatest increase in over three decades during the first quarter.

Fed expected to raise interest rates by 50% on Wednesday. It will also likely begin trimming assets soon. In March, the U.S. central banking raised its policy rate 25 basis points.