Hiring has slowed, but employers have added 239,000 jobs per month this year.
The decline in job openings was led by the health care and social assistance sector, with unfilled jobs dropping by 236,000.
The number of job openings dropped by 617,000 to 8.733 million, the lowest level since March 2021.
The state of the labor market is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve as it considers its interest rate policy.
The unemployment rate has remained below 4% for 21 consecutive months.
US job openings fell to a 2-1/2-year low in October, indicating a cooling demand for labor.
In October, US job openings fell to a 2-1/2-year low, indicating a cooling demand for labor. The number of job openings dropped by 617,000 to 8.733 million, the lowest level since March 2021. The data also showed that there were 1.34 vacancies for every unemployed person, the lowest since August 2021. The decline in job openings was led by the health care and social assistance sector, with unfilled jobs dropping by 236,000. Despite the decrease in job openings, layoffs and the rate of workers quitting their jobs remained relatively unchanged, indicating workers' confidence in finding new employment.
The state of the labor market is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve as it considers its interest rate policy. A cooling labor market may lead to predictions that the Fed will not further increase rates. Some economists even anticipate a rate cut in mid-2024. The drop in job openings is seen as a positive development by the Federal Reserve, which has been raising interest rates to cool off the economy and bring down inflation.
Hiring has slowed, but employers have added 239,000 jobs per month this year. The unemployment rate has remained below 4% for 21 consecutive months. The November jobs report is expected to show an increase of nearly 173,000 jobs. The combination of easing inflation and a cooling job market may lead to a lessening of inflation pressures and a decrease in interest rates.
The drop in job openings is seen as a positive development by the Federal Reserve, which has been raising interest rates to cool off the economy and bring down inflation.