US Job Openings Fall Sharply in November, Exceeding Expectations
US job openings decreased by 303,000 to 7.146 million in November, surpassing economist predictions. Hiring also declined, reflecting a cooling labor market amid economic uncertainty.
The United States labor market showed signs of cooling in November as job openings fell by 303,000 to 7.146 million, according to the latest data from the U.S. Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). Released on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the report highlighted a significant miss from economist forecasts, which had anticipated 7.60 million unfilled positions. This decline in job openings, coupled with a reduction in hiring by 253,000 to 5.115 million, underscores a weakening labor demand amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
