Job openings in April surged to 7.6 million, up 731,000 from March and the highest level since May 2024. Despite that boost, hiring slowed to 5.1 million, shedding 419,000 from March, according to the June 2 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The professional and business services category added 668,000 positions, accounting for almost the entire increase, the BLS said. The health care industry also remained a top source of hiring, adding 37,000 jobs in April, according to the report. Retail, transportation, and warehousing were also among the top sources of new jobs.
Layoffs and discharges fell 192,000 to 1.7 million. Quits declined to just under 3 million, down 183,000 and the lowest level since August 2020. The layoff rate dropped from 1.2% in March to 1.1% in April.
Jobs in the federal government continued to decline in April, shedding 9,000 positions, according to the report. The federal government has lost 348,000 jobs, or nearly 12% of its workforce, since October 2024.
A low-hire, low-fire environment has characterized the labor market since early 2025, according to reports.
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally
voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of
workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.
Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
In April, the number and rate of total separations decreased to 5.0 million (-399,000) and 3.1 percent,
respectively. Total separations decreased in retail trade (-136,000). The number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.0 million and 1.9 percent, respectively.
Quits were little changed in all industries.
The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million and 1.1 percent,
respectively, in April. Layoffs and discharges decreased in retail trade (-88,000). The number of other separations was little changed at 310,000 in April.