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US Labor Market Balances Unexpected April Job Openings with Sharp May Hiring Drop

The Fed has signaled patience on rate decisions in light of trade-driven uncertainty in hiring trends.

Overview

  • April job vacancies rose by 191,000 to 7.39 million, topping expectations for a decline.
  • Layoffs climbed by 196,000 to 1.786 million in April even as hiring reached a seven-month high of 5.573 million.
  • The quits rate held at 2 percent in April, underscoring sustained worker confidence despite a modest pullback.
  • ADP data showed private-sector firms added just 37,000 jobs in May, the smallest gain since March 2023.
  • Businesses are proceeding cautiously on new hires as President Trump’s tariffs and signs of slowing growth weigh on sentiment.