Job openings climbed to 7.6 million in April despite economic fallout from the Iran war

U.S. job openings rose to 7.6 million in April, signaling resilience in the labor market despite the Iran war’s economic spillover. The Labor Department’s JOLTS report showed openings up from 6.9 million in March, the highest since May 2024, and economists surveyed by FactSet had expected 6.8 million. Layoffs fell while quits declined, suggesting workers remained confident about opportunities, though gross hiring dipped as firms held back on net new hires. The April data continue a recovery trend from a weak 2025, with hiring averaging around 76,000 per month earlier in 2026.