The numbers: Job openings in the U.S. fell to 10.3 million in October in another sign the labor market is cooling off as the economy softens. But it doesn’t appear to be cooling off as quickly as the Federal Reserve would like.The number of job openings is viewed as a way to evaluate the strength of the labor market and the broader economy. Job postings have dropped from a record 11.9 million in the spring but are still quite high.
Key details: The number of people hired in October slipped to 6 million from 6.1 million — the lowest level in almost two years. Businesses aren’t filling quite as many jobs amid growing worries about recession. The so-called quits rate among private-sector workers was unchanged at 2.9%. It peaked at 3.4% near the end of 2021.
Big picture: The once-sleepy job openings report has taken on new importance given how much weight the Fed gives it.