BLS report: July job openings change little; hires and total separations unchanged

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2. Job openings fall again and hiring has stalled. More evidence of weakening U.S. labor market

New hires barely outpaced jobs losses in July
By Jeffry Bartash, MarketWatch
Published: Sept. 3, 2025 at 10:17 a.m. ET

The number of job openings in the U.S. fell in July to the second lowest level since the pandemic and hiring patterns signaled the labor market has gotten weaker.

Job postings dropped to 7.18 million million in July from 7.36 million in the prior month, the government said Wednesday. It was the lowest level since last fall and the second smallest reading since 2020.

Job openings are still higher compared to the last few months before the pandemic, but they have tumbled from a record 12.1 million in 2022.

. . . The so-called hiring rate was unchanged at 3.3% in July and stood at the lowest level since 2013 if the pandemic era is excluded.

The silver lining? Layoffs also remain very low.

. . . Key details: The number of people hired in July totaled 5.31 million, but the increase was almost entirely offset by 5.29 million “separations” —layoffs, job quitters, retirements and so forth.

MORE: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/job-openings-fall-again-and-hiring-has-stalled-more-evidence-of-weakening-u-s-labor-market-70f74bab