The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its April Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The monthly report revealed an unexpected 10.1 million job openings in April—compared with a revised 9.745 million in March—following three months of declines.
Economists expected 9.375 million job openings in April, according to consensus estimates on Refinitiv. Monthly job openings have dropped from the record of 12 million in March 2022 but remain well above the pre-pandemic benchmark of 7 million. The number of job openings is viewed as an indication of the strength of the labor market and the broader economy. The largest increases in job openings were in these sectors: retail trade; health care and social assistance; and transportation, warehousing, and utilities.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Non-Farm Job Openings
Employers will likely continue to have difficulties attracting and retaining workers, resulting in increased labor costs as they raise wages and offer competitive benefits to attract talent. Employers should continue to monitor employment trends to stay competitive in today’s evolving market.
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