Jop opening numbers fall, but hiring remains steady and there's good news on layoffs too

Analysts though fear further declines as trade tensions and budget cuts take effect.

PUBLISHED APR 29, 2025

As of early 2025, the national unemployment rate has hovered around 3.7% to 4.0%.

Washington D.C.: Job openings in the US fell to 7.2 million in March, down from 7.5 million in February and well below last year’s 8.1 million, according to the Labor Department. The drop — the lowest since September — missed economists’ forecasts, signaling growing economic uncertainty.

Despite high interest rates, hiring remained steady, and layoffs dipped slightly. Robert Frick of Navy Federal Credit Union told the Associated ress that while employers are retaining workers, sectors like manufacturing and government contracting may soon face cuts due to tariffs and federal downsizing.

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Though federal layoffs decreased in March, analysts fear further declines as trade tensions and budget cuts take effect.

As of early 2025, the national unemployment rate has hovered around 3.7% to 4.0%, reflecting a historically tight labor market. Job growth has continued, albeit at a slower pace than during the post-pandemic rebound, with monthly job gains averaging between 150,000 and 200,000.

Sectors such as healthcare, government, and professional services have seen consistent hiring, while technology and retail have experienced mixed outcomes due to automation, cost-cutting, and changing consumer behavior.