US Job Openings at Lowest Since February 2021, Fall 33 Percent in Past Two Years

There are currently more unemployed individuals available per job opening, indicating a cooling labor market.

Residents look at jobs available at the hotel management company HVMG booth setup at the Mega South Florida Job Fair held in Sunrise, Fla., on Feb. 23, 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Job openings in the United States declined in April to hit the lowest level in more than three years, with the decline likely to play a role in the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates.

Nonfarm job openings in April dropped by 296,000 month over month to 8.05 million, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show. Since April 2023, job openings have declined by more than 1.8 million.