US Job Openings Rise, Layoffs and Quits Shift

U.S. job openings unexpectedly rose to 7.39 million in April, surpassing economists' expectations of 7.1 million and reflecting a resilient labor market despite ongoing economic uncertainty related to President Trump's tariff policies. Hiring increased slightly, while layoffs edged higher and the quits rate declined, indicating workers may be more cautious about changing jobs. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Job openings, while strong, remain well below their 2022 peak, and economists note that unpredictable tariffs and trade policies are complicating business planning and consumer confidence. Economic growth has shown signs of slowing, but the labor market has not yet shown significant deterioration. Policymakers and businesses are closely watching for further signals in the upcoming May jobs report.