May 11, 2021 - Economy

Job openings reach record high

Orion Rummler

A "we are hiring" sign on a glass door — A sign reads "We Are Hiring" outside a store in District Heights, Maryland on April 27. Photo: Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A record number of open jobs were posted by U.S. employers in March, AP reports, citing a Labor Department report released Tuesday.

Why it matters: Despite a high number of employers seeking workers, April's jobs report found that fewer people were hired than expected. The economy added a mere 266,000 jobs last month while forecasters had floated gains close to 1 million.

By the numbers: A high of 8.1 million jobs were posted on the last business day of March, the agency said in its report — while hires stayed at 6 million.

Between the lines, per AP's Christopher Rugaber: "The enormous number of openings will likely add fuel to a political dispute about whether the extra $300 in weekly federal unemployment aid, on top of a state payment that averages about $320, is discouraging those out of work from seeking new jobs."

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Job openings reach record high

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