US JOLTS job openings rose to 7.62 mln in April from 6.89 mln in March, the
highest in nearly two years, with professional and business services
contributing nearly all of the increase. Hires fell to 5.12 mln, partly
offsetting March’s jump, while layoffs declined to 1.69 mln, indicating a
resilient labor market despite corporate pressure from higher energy costs
linked to the Iran war. Openings remain well below the pandemic reopening peak,
but the stabilization in labor demand versus near‑zero employment growth in 2025
may weaken the case for rate cuts and Fed officials are increasingly discussing
the possibility of further hikes.
