US Job Openings Rise, But Labor Market Slowing

US Job Openings Rise, But Labor Market Slowing
A “Now Hiring” sign sits in the window of Tatte Bakery and Cafe in Cambridge, Mass., on Feb. 11, 2019. Brian Snyder/Reuters
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WASHINGTON—U.S. job openings increased in October, but many of the help wanted signs could disappear amid widespread restrictions on businesses to slow rapidly spreading COVID-19 infections.

The month-old Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS report from the Labor Department on Dec. 9 also showed a rise in layoffs, though a chunk reflected the discharge of temporary workers hired for the 2020 Census.