Job openings in May are forecast to ease slightly but remain elevated, reinforcing expectations for further Federal Reserve tightening.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish May’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey at 14:00 GMT, with economists expecting 7.3 million openings. This marks a modest decline from April’s 7.61 million, which was the highest since July 2024, but still above the 2025 average of 7.08 million.
Markets are closely monitoring the report as it precedes key employment data, including Friday’s Nonfarm Payrolls. Persistent inflation and resilient labor demand have bolstered bets on at least one more Fed rate hike this year, with the JOLTS figures seen as a critical input for timing.
A print near consensus could amplify USD volatility, as traders assess whether the labor market’s strength justifies further monetary tightening amid geopolitical and inflationary risks.