U.S. Job Openings Steady at 6.9M, Hiring Surges

U.S. job openings held nearly steady at 6.9 million in March, while hiring surged to its highest level in nearly two years, according to Labor Department data released Tuesday. The figures, from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, showed a mixed labor market regaining some momentum before the broader economic effects of the Iran war, which began February 28, fully materialized.

Job openings totaled 6.87 million at the end of March, a slight decline of about 56,000 from February's revised figure of 6.92 million and just above economist expectations of 6.85 million. The openings rate dipped to 4.1 percent from 4.2 percent. Hiring jumped by 655,000 to 5.55 million, pushing the hires rate to 3.5 percent, the highest since May 2024 and a sharp rebound from February's pandemic-era low. Layoffs and discharges rose by 153,000 to 1.87 million, with the rate increasing to 1.2 percent from 1.1 percent. Separations due to quits also climbed, signaling worker confidence in finding new opportunities.

The report captured a labor market that has fluctuated this year following a weak 2025, when monthly job growth averaged fewer than 10,000 positions outside a recession for the...