U.S. Job Openings Hold at 7.6 Million in May as Hiring Slips to 5.17 Million
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · Jun 30
U.S. Job Openings Hold at 7.6 Million in May as Hiring Slips to 5.17 Million
3 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Jun 30
Summary
7.6 million U.S. job openings in May topped forecasts for 7 million, showing labor demand stayed firm despite the economic shock from the Iran war.
5.17 million gross hires, down from 5.26 million in April, showed employers kept posting jobs but were still slow to actually bring workers on.
May layoffs rose and quits edged up only slightly, suggesting the market remained sturdy rather than booming even as confidence improved only marginally.
Nearly 114,000 jobs a month have been added on average in the first five months of 2026, a sharp rebound from 9,700 a month in 2025.
Thursday's June payrolls report is expected to show another 100,000 jobs added and unemployment holding at 4.3%, with retirements and tighter immigration lowering the hiring pace needed to keep joblessness stable.