John Carney 11 Mar 2025
U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in January, underscoring a resilient labor market that continues to defy pessimistic forecasts about the impact of President Donald Trump’s economic policies.
Job openings climbed to 7.74 million in January, up from a revised 7.51 million in December, according to data released Tuesday by the Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The increase surpassed economists’ expectations of 7.6 million openings.
The increase in openings was driven primarily by gains in the real estate, construction, retail, manufacturing, and financial sectors, suggesting continued strength in key areas of the economy. Despite widespread media speculation about negative economic impacts from the Trump administration’s tariff policies and federal workforce reductions, the labor market data indicate ongoing stability.
Job openings in manufacturing, a politically and economically sensitive sector of the economy, climbed by 30,000, the first significant increase since and the highest since September. Hires also climbed by 30,000, the first increase since September. The number of factory workers quitting their jobs rose, as did the rate of quits, signs that workers in the sector are more confident.
The layoffs rate remained steady at a historically low 1.0 percent, reflecting employers’ continued reluctance to shed workers. Meanwhile, the quits rate—a key indicator of worker confidence—rose to 2.1 percent, the highest level since July 2024. An elevated quits rate typically signals that workers feel confident in their ability to find new jobs.
Hiring remained stable in January, with the hiring rate unchanged at 3.4 percent. While overall hiring numbers have moderated since the peak recovery years immediately following the pandemic, January’s figures suggest employers are maintaining steady employment levels rather than aggressively downsizing.
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https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/03/11/job-openings-rise-as-labor-market-shows-strength-and-stability/
