U.S. job openings rise slightly to 9.6 million, sign of continued strength in the job market

Employers posted 9.6 million job openings in September, up from 9.5 million in August and a sign that the U.S. job market remains strong in the face of higher interest rates. Layoffs fell, and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence they can find better pay elsewhere — was virtually unchanged. The September openings are down from a record 12 million in March 2022 but remain high by historical standards. Before 2021 — when the American economy began to surge from the COVID-19 pandemic — monthly job openings had never topped 8 million.