JOLTS: U.S. Job Openings Essentially Unchanged in August
The U.S. Labor Department’s monthly JOLTS release on Sept. 30, 2025 shows job openings ticked to 7.23 million in August from 7.21 million in July, signaling a labor market that remains relatively tight but losing momentum. Hiring was weak (weakest since June 2024), quits declined, layoffs fell, and unemployment remains low at 4.3% — trends analysts tie to Federal Reserve rate moves, President Trump’s trade policies and the risk of a government shutdown.
Economy
Finance
🔍 Key Facts
- Job openings: 7.23 million in August vs. 7.21 million in July (Labor Department JOLTS)
- Unemployment rate noted in story: 4.3%
- Hiring measure was weakest since June 2024; quits down and layoffs fell
- Context: cited effects include 11 prior Fed rate hikes (2022–2023), recent Fed rate cut and trade/shutdown uncertainty
📍 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.