Key Points:
- The number of available jobs since May 2021 continues to outnumber Americans looking for work.
- The tight labor market has pushed total job openings to nearly double the available workers, but hiring has slowed amid a broader economic slowdown.
- Job openings increased by 358,000 to 10.1 million in April, the highest since January 2023 and reversing three months of decline.
- In April, job openings increased in retail trade, health care and social assistance, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities.
- The U.S. added 253,000 jobs in April but there were 5.7 million people unemployed, down from 5.8 million in March.
- In April, the number of hires was little changed at 6.1 million and separations decreased to 5.7 million.
- Within separations, the number of quits changed little at 3.8 million, and layoffs and discharges decreased to 1.6 million.
- The number of quits increased in wholesale trade (+29,000) but decreased in state and local government, excluding education (-18,000).
- Layoffs and discharges decreased in construction (-113,000) and in information (-33,000).
- The labor force participation rate was little changed over the month at 62.6% in April and remains 0.7% below its February 2020 level.
- The Right Facts will continue to monitor unemployment and job openings.