US job openings climbed to 7.6 million in April, defying economic uncertainty stemming from the Iran war, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. The figure rose from 6.9 million in March and marked the highest level since May 2024, far exceeding economists' forecasts of 6.8 million.
Layoffs declined in April, but the number of Americans voluntarily leaving their jobs also fell, indicating cautious confidence in the labour market. The American job market has been recovering from a weak 2025, when monthly job creation averaged fewer than 10,000—the lowest outside a recession since 2002.
This year has shown improvement, with average monthly job growth of 76,000 from January through April. Large tax refunds from President Donald Trump's tax cut bill have boosted the economy, offsetting higher energy prices since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. However, the impact of those refunds is now fading.
The US needs fewer new jobs than in the past due to Trump's immigration crackdown and Baby Boomer retirements, which have reduced competition for work. According to an April report by Federal Reserve economists, the monthly break-even point for keeping unemployment stable has dropped to near zero, down from 155,000 two or three years ago.
The Labor Department is set to release its May jobs report on Friday, with forecasters predicting employers added 100,000 jobs last month.
