Data on job openings and labor turnover (JOLTS) in April show a 358,000 increase in job openings to 10.103 million after an upward revision to 9.745 million in March. The job openings rate is up to 6.1 percent in April from 5.9 in March. Private job openings are up 430,000 in April while government is down 71,000. Much of the gain was in a 209,000 increase in retail trade openings, 185,000 in healthcare and assistance, and 154,000 in information. However, reductions in job openings are prevalent with the largest fall a 86,000 decline in leisure and hospitality, followed by 69,000 in state and local governments. The job openings rate is up 2 tenths to 6.1 percent in April. The numbers suggest that at least some businesses are still hiring, and that the softer readings in February and March were short-lived.

Hiring in April is up 49,000 to 6.115 million after 6.066 million in March. Hiring in the private sector is up 68,000 while government is down 19,000. The April increase does not wipe out the two months of declines in February and March. However, it points to some easing in labor market shortages. The hires rate is unchanged at 3.9 percent in April from March.

The number of job separations is down 286,000 to 5.708 million in April from 5.994 million in March. The April level is the lowest since 5.737 million in June 2021. Separations were entirely in the private sector with the largest down 99,000 in leisure and hospitality and 83,000 in construction. The separations rate is down 2 tenths to 3.7 in April. Layoffs and discharges accounted for 264,000 of the decrease in April and are led by construction with 113,000 separations. Businesses continue to hold on to workers where they can. It is also notable that while there are large numbers of layoffs in construction, there are 68,000 construction job openings that are available to be filled.

The number of quits a subset of separations is down 49,000 to 3.793 million in April after 3.842 million in March. The April level is the lowest since 3.654 million in March 2021. Fewer voluntary job leavers means less churn in the labor market. The quits rate is down a tenth to 2.4 in April, its lowest since 2.4 in February 2021.

Fed policymakers will add this to the evidence that the labor market remains strong despite the slowdown in economic activity and restrictive monetary policy intended to bring inflation down and which has affected the more interest-rate sensitive sectors.

Job openings have been falling, to 9.590 million March from 9.974 million in February and from more than 10 million in January and more than 11 million in December. Forecasters see April openings at 9.350 million

The Labor Department's JOLTS report tracks monthly change in job openings and offers rates on hiring and quits. The reporting period lags other employment data including the employment situation report. The word JOLTS stands for Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

Although lagging the release timing of the employment situation report by a month, JOLTS provides additional information on the labor market. The payroll survey in the employment situation report provides numbers on net job changes. JOLTS breaks down labor market data into pre-net changes such as job openings, hires, and separations.