US job openings jumped to 7.6 million in April as hiring fell
What's next: Friday's May jobs report is expected to show 100,000 new jobs, with unemployment holding at 4.3%.
US job openings rose sharply in April even as employers pulled back on hiring, pointing to a labor market that remained resilient but cautious. The Labor Department's JOLTS report showed vacancies climbed to 7.6 million from 6.9 million in March, the highest level since May 2024 and well above economists' 6.8 million forecast. Hiring fell by 419,000 to 5.12 million, while layoffs dropped to 1.7 million and quits slipped to just under 3 million, the lowest since August 2020. Professional and business services drove most of the increase in openings, adding 668,000 positions, while health care and social assistance added 89,000. The data arrives ahead of Friday's May employment report.