Job openings rise in middle of trade wars, but businesses are slower to hire

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: MarketWatch

Job openings rise in middle of trade wars, but businesses are slower to hire

By Jeffry Bartash
Published: June 3, 2025 at 10:09 a.m. ET

Job openings in the U.S. rose in April even after President Trump jacked up tariffs on the rest of the world, but companies were slow to fill new positions given all the uncertainty caused by the worst trade wars since the 1930s.

New job postings rose to 7.4 million at the end of April from 7.2 million in the prior month, the government said Tuesday.

{snip due to paywall}

Read more: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/job-openings-rise-in-middle-of-trade-wars-but-businesses-are-slower-to-hire-60ea7778

---

Job openings unexpectedly increased in April, a sign of US labor market resilience
https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/03/economy/us-job-openings-layoffs-jolts-april

By Alicia Wallace, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 10:24 AM EDT, Tue June 3, 2025

(CNN) — The number of available jobs in the US unexpectedly increased in April, signaling a potential undercurrent of strength in the labor market despite broader economic uncertainty. ... Job openings totaled an estimated 7.39 million at the end of April, up from 7.2 million in March, according to new data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed how the US labor market — job openings, hires, quits and separations such as layoffs — is adapting as President Donald Trump’s sweeping (and frequently shifting) policy actions kicked into higher gear in April, rattling consumers, businesses and investors alike and reigniting recession fears.

Economists were expecting that job openings — a measurement of labor market demand — would fall for the third consecutive month to 7.1 million, according to FactSet consensus estimates.

In addition to posting more jobs, employers brought more people on board: Hiring activity increased to its highest rate in seven months, and the number of estimated hires (5.57 million) was the highest in nearly a year, BLS data shows.

{snip}

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Labour market is quite resilient at this time and overall economy too. Complacency is not advised.

The economy seems to be growing, but slowly. Uncertainty is the number one issue for CEOs at the moment, though even there the concern has come down a bit. Many of the federal government layoffs are "deferred resignations" that don't take effect until September.

Things seem to be coming to a bit of a head. I heard that the White House has demanded that countries give them their "best offer" by Friday and that the WH will look very favourably on those offers. Sounds like a bit of desperation. Navarro said "90 deals in 90 days" and after more than half way through there is only one (UK) and that is weak tea. The July 9 deadline of the 90 days is looming and there may be fireworks or TACO or digging in heels to avoid TACO label. Who knows? Not me.

China has not confirmed any impending phone call with Xi. I heard a report (I have not confirmed) on CNBC that China has appointed a top hard-nosed negotiator to handle US tariff talks. Japan is said to be slow-walking talks. The court block on most tariffs is stayed while appeals are made and many countries may simply be waiting for legal resolution.

Some price rises from tariffs are happening. Tariff front-running seems to have run its course for the moment.

50% tariffs on steel and aluminum kick in tomorrow. About 25% of steel used in the US is imported.

Aluminum is a different story for the U.S. It relies heavily on imports, with about half of the aluminum used domestically coming from other countries.

Canada has an upper hand there. It is the largest supplier of aluminum to the U.S., providing almost 60 per cent of all imports. Other major suppliers include the United Arab Emirates, China, South Korea, and Bahrain. -- National Post

That means higher prices for cans, cars, and construction materials. I heard that all the structural steel used in large buildings comes from Europe because a company there has a patent on the key process.

[FirstLight]

2. Job openings... ok that's what we're calling it now...

Do they correspond with the layoffs and other downsizing happenng quietly due to tariffs?

My Son is in Reno and can't get a job for shit. But then again, he's got a really crappy history (no longevity) because he was basically on the road and everywhere for the past 2 years... He *said* he got rejected by Taco Bell the other day cuz of that...but I don't know.
Maybe if he told them he was "van lifing it" instead of in bad situations, it would look better...

But he's a priviliged whie male, so where's his job?

ugh... the poor and unprepared, under educated will always be at disadvantage.

(Mind you, I also know he lacks the focus and longevity...I just pray it's a side-effect of being 22!)

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. This is not the monthly payroll employment report. This is JOLTS, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.

JOLTS has been around for a while. It comes out every month too.

Openings and Labor Turnover Survey Overview Page

[BaronChocula]

3. President Biden left us with such a strong economy

Even Yam Tits can't readily break it. Imagine how great the economy would be if a majority of voters had sense.

[progree]

5. GRAPH - there's a graph of the job openings and of the hires at

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/job-openings-rise-more-than-expected-in-april-despite-tariff-escalation-145250191.html

A rather minute upturn, but the corporate media is making it out to be some kind of huge upside surprise.