US Job Openings Jump 731,000 to 7.6 Million as Hiring Falls to 5.12 Million

3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 2

7.6 million job openings in April topped forecasts for 6.8 million and marked the highest level since May 2024, lifting vacancies above the number of unemployed workers.
5.12 million hires, however, were down 419,000 from March, cutting the hiring rate to 3.2% and reinforcing the labor market's low-hire, low-fire pattern.
668,000 of the increase came from professional and business services, while health care added 89,000 openings and financial activities lost 134,000.
1.7 million layoffs and discharges fell by 192,000, while quits dropped 183,000 to just under 3 million—the lowest since August 2020—signaling weaker worker confidence.
4.3% unemployment and subdued claims leave the Fed focused less on labor-market weakness and more on tariff- and energy-driven inflation ahead of its June meeting.

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