JOLTS: U.S. Job Openings Essentially Unchanged in August
The Labor Department’s JOLTS report showed U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged in August amid ongoing economic uncertainty. At the same time, long‑term unemployment rose to about 1.9 million in August, and the official September jobs report has been delayed by the government shutdown.
Economy
Labor
Finance
🔍 Key Facts
- JOLTS: U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged in August.
- Coverage frames the pattern as evidence that U.S. hiring is slowing.
- Report links the weaker job‑openings picture to a rise in long‑term unemployment, which reached 1.9 million in August.
- More Americans are job‑hunting for months, reflecting longer job searches amid the slower hiring environment.
- The official September jobs report has been delayed because of the government shutdown.
📍 Contextual Background
- The U.S. administration announced a 50% tariff on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products.
- The U.S. administration announced a 30% tariff on imported upholstered furniture.
- Prices for living room, kitchen and dining room furniture in the U.S. rose 9.5% from August 2024 to August 2025, according to CPI data.
- The Social Security Administration's contingency plans provide that in the event of a lapse in appropriations the agency will follow those plans and beneficiaries would continue receiving Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
- The U.S. administration announced tariffs of 50% on imported kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products, and 30% on imported upholstered furniture, to take effect on 2025-10-01.
- Republicans and Democrats were engaged in negotiations over government funding ahead of an upcoming funding deadline described as occurring on a Tuesday.
- U.S. prices for furniture and bedding rose 4.7% from August 2024 to August 2025, and prices for household furnishings and supplies rose 2.8% over the same period, according to CPI data.
📰 Sources (2)
As U.S. hiring slows, more Americans are job hunting for months
New information:
- Adds context linking JOLTS/job‑openings decline to a rise in long‑term unemployment (1.9 million in August)
- Notes the delay of the official September jobs report because of the government shutdown