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US job openings rise to near two-year high in April

Created at 2 Jun · 2:12 PM14 sources↑ Market-relevant9 events
IN SHORT

US job openings increased by 731,000 to 7.618 million in April, the highest level since May 2024. Hiring fell to 5.116 million, while layoffs decreased, suggesting a firming labor market despite economic uncertainty.

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Key Numbers

7.618 millionUS job openings in April
May 2024Last time job openings were this high
731,000Increase in job openings
5.116 millionHiring in April
4.6%Job openings rate in April
3.2%Hires rate in April
1.692 millionLayoffs and discharges in April
1.1%Layoffs rate in April

Who's Involved

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Released the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey data
Reuters economists
Polled for job opening forecasts
Federal Reserve
Expected to keep interest rates steady
US job openings rise to near two-year high in April

↳ Why This Matters

The rise in job openings suggests continued labor demand, which could influence the Federal Reserve's decisions on interest rates, while the cooling hiring indicates potential economic headwinds.

Key facts

  • US job openings increased by 731,000 to 7.618 million in April.
  • This is the highest level of job openings recorded since May 2024.
  • Hiring decreased by 419,000 to 5.116 million in April.
  • The job openings rate rose to 4.6% in April from 4.2% in March.
  • Layoffs and discharges dropped to 1.692 million in April.

U.S. job openings surged by more than expected in April, reaching 7.618 million, the highest level in nearly two years, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase in labor demand occurred despite a decline in hiring, which fell to 5.116 million, suggesting that economic uncertainty may be tempering active recruitment. The job openings rate rose to 4.6%, while layoffs decreased, indicating a potentially firming labor market after a period of wobbling.

Frequently asked questions

US job openings reached 7.618 million in April, the highest level since May 2024.

Hiring decreased by 419,000 to 5.116 million in April.

The job openings rate rose to 4.6% in April, up from 4.2% in March.

Economists predict nonfarm payrolls increased by 85,000 jobs and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3% in May.

What Happens Next

01The employment report for May, including nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate, is due on Friday.
02The Federal Reserve is expected to monitor inflation fallout from the Middle East conflict.

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How It Developed

2 Jun · 4:04 PM
April job openings rebound while hiring cools https://t.co/RFbG4QAwjo
@axios via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:43 PM
Restates earlier reporting on April job openings and hiring, adding specific rates for hiring.
WSJ | Economy via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:36 PM
For the first time since June 2025, US job openings (7.62M) exceeded the number of unemployed workers (7.37M).
@byHeatherLong via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:11 PM
US job openings hit a nearly two-year high in April, with layoffs falling, signaling labor market resilience amid rising energy costs.
@business via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:10 PM
New article notes April job openings raised the 3-month average for the first time since fall and the vacancies-to-unemployed ratio hit a new high.
@NickTimiraos via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:04 PM
US job openings rose to 7.62 million in April, exceeding economist estimates and reaching a near two-year high, with layoffs declining.
@M_McDonough via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:04 PM
The article adds that the US job openings rate rose to 4.6% in April, up 0.4 ppts MoM and 0.3 ppts YoY.
@MTSInsights via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:03 PM
🇺🇸 United States JOLTS Job Openings (Apr) $USD Actual: 7.618M 🟢 Forecast: 6.86M Previous: 6.887M 🟢
@PiQSuite via PiQSuite
2 Jun · 2:01 PM
New JOLTS data shows April job openings at 7.618M, slightly lower than previously reported 7.62M, but still exceeding estimates.
@LiveSquawk via PiQSuite

Sources

T1
US job openings rose to 7.62 million in April, up from a revised 6.89 million in March, according to BLS data. The figure exceeded the median economist estimate of 6.87 million to reach a near two-year high, while layoffs declined during the month. https://t.co/hq5fKMJG5u@M_McDonough via PiQSuite
T1
🇺🇸 US job openings jumped by 731k to 7.62 mil (vs 6.82 mil expected) in April, pushing the job openings rate up by 0.4 ppts MoM and 0.3 ppts YoY to 4.6%. Private job openings also jumped, rising 684k to 6.84 mil, and the private job openings rate increased 0.4 ppts MoM and YoY https://t.co/DTb6J6Jl59@MTSInsights via PiQSuite
T1
🇺🇸 United States JOLTS Job Openings (Apr) $USD Actual: 7.618M 🟢 Forecast: 6.86M Previous: 6.887M 🟢@PiQSuite via PiQSuite
T1
US April JOLTS job openings 7.618m vs 6.88m expected https://t.co/fgpaLgfQni@investingLive_ via PiQSuite
T1
US JOLTS Job Openings Apr: 7.618M (est 6.866M; prev 6.866M; prev R 6.887M) - Job Openings Rate: 4.6% (est 4.2%; prev 4.1%; prev R 4.2%) - Quits Level: 2.977M (est 3.138M; prev 3.171M; prev R 3.160M) - Quits Rate: 1.9% (est 2.0%; prev 2.0%) - Layoffs Level: 1.692M (est 1.842M;@LiveSquawk via PiQSuite
T1
US job openings jumped in April to the highest level in almost two years and layoffs fell, adding to signs the labor market remained resilient even as businesses navigated rising energy costs sparked by the Iran war https://t.co/y5idJvsUiu@business via PiQSuite
T1
It's one month in a noisy series, but job openings jumped in April, pushing up the 3-month moving average for the first time since last fall. The ratio of vacancies for every worker counted as unemployed rose above 1 to the highest level since January 2025 https://t.co/K8o4srh6gb@NickTimiraos via PiQSuite
T1
A frozen labor market might be thawing out: U.S. job openings and hiring leap to 2-year highm.piqsuite.com
T1
NEWS: There are more job openings than unemployed workers in the US for the first time since June 2025. April job openings: 7,618,000 April unemployed: 7,373,000 people CAVEATS: This doesn't mean everything is great in the job market (or that companies are even hiring. The https://t.co/oqotgOZYu0@byHeatherLong via PiQSuite
T1
Job openings in April surged to 7.6 million, the highest in nearly two yearsm.piqsuite.com
T1
US job openings jump to near two-year high in Aprilm.piqsuite.com
T1
U.S. Job Openings Increased While Hiring Fell in Aprilm.piqsuite.com
T1
U.S. job openings surged to a nearly two-year high in April — but hiring fellm.piqsuite.com
T1
April job openings rebound while hiring cools https://t.co/RFbG4QAwjo@axios via PiQSuite

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