U.S. Job Openings Jump To Highest Level In Nearly Two Years

Hiring dropped by 419,000 to 5.116 million in April, while the hiring rate fell to 3.2% from 3.5% in March, according to Labor Department data. (Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

U.S. job openings rose to their highest level in nearly two years in April, a surprising sign of resilience in the labor market even as employers continued to show caution in the actual hiring of new employees.

The number of available jobs jumped by 731,000 to 7.618 million on the last day of April, the highest level since May 2024, according to the Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, known as JOLTS.