JOLTS job openings fall to five-year low, cooling market

Key Update

The latest JOLTS report shows U.S. job openings fell to 6.542 million in December, the lowest level since 2020, reinforcing signs of a cooling labor market.

Details

The data points to easing worker demand. Markets typically watch JOLTS for labor “tightness” signals tied to wage pressure and interest-rate expectations.

Background

JOLTS is a key indicator used by economists and investors to gauge how quickly the labor market is rebalancing without a sharp rise in layoffs.

Why It Matters

Cooling openings can shift rate-cut expectations, corporate hiring plans, and wage growth outlooks—making this report market-moving beyond headline jobs numbers.