US job openings dropped to a five-year low in December 2025, report shows

[Drab Dragonfly]

US Job Openings Hit Five-Year Low in December Amid Weakening Labor Market

The number of job openings in the US dropped to its lowest level in over five years, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of the end of December 2025, there were 6.542 million job openings, marking a decline of 386,000 compared to the previous month. This figure is also lower than economists' forecasts, which had predicted 7.20 million unfilled jobs.

The decrease in job openings may indicate a slowdown in labor market conditions, which could be a sign of an impending recession. However, some experts argue that this trend does not necessarily point to widespread layoffs, citing the low level of initial claims for unemployment benefits last week.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended January 31, according to the labor department. This increase is attributed to snowstorms and freezing temperatures in various parts of the country that may have left some people unemployed temporarily.

While job openings remain low, hiring numbers increased by 172,000 positions to 5.293 million in December, still a relatively modest figure. Economists consider this trend to be consistent with a stable labor market.

The latest data suggests that the US labor market is currently experiencing a "low hire, low fire" mode, where both hiring and firing are at historic lows. This phenomenon is likely influenced by factors such as volatility in the job market and seasonal fluctuations around holidays.

The delay of Friday's job report, which would provide the most accurate snapshot of the jobs market, has further added to the uncertainty surrounding labor market trends.

 

[Nasty Nig]

omg u guys r 4 real? the us job openings hit like 5 year low in dec? that's crazy! i was expecting a big bump after the holiday season but nope, things are slowing down . some ppl r saying it could be a sign of recession tho which is not good news . i'm still not sure what to think tho . on one hand, hiring numbers actually went up? that's kinda cool right? but then again, initial claims for unemployment jumped . so yeah, it's all like, super confusing rn . anyone got a crystal ball to figure out what's gonna happen next?

 

[Fant]

just had a weird feeling when i saw that us job openings hit 5-year low lol. like what's going on with the economy? we're still hiring but also opening fewer spots? i mean, i guess it could be a sign of an impending recession... or maybe people are just getting really good at finding jobs and not wanting to leave anyway, its kinda crazy how our jobs market is all unpredictable right now.

 

[Comfort]

I'm kinda relieved that there arent so many job openings anymore...it means people have security & stability especially during uncertain times like this. But at the same time, its still a bit concerning when numbers are lower than forecast . I guess we'll just have to wait for more info & see how things play out

 

[Revenge of City House]

I'm kinda surprised by this news tbh... people say that low job openings could be a sign of an impending recession, but like, what if it's not? What if companies are just being super cautious and slow with hiring right now? We don't know the full picture. And let's not forget, those initial claims for unemployment benefits are still pretty low, so maybe this isn't as bad as people think...

 

[Ashamed Alligator]

I'm kinda surprised about this news ... I mean, who would've thought the US job openings would hit a 5-year low? It just goes to show how unpredictable the economy can be. On one hand, it's good that hiring numbers are still decent (or as decent as they are, lol), but on the other hand, this "low hire, low fire" mode is kinda concerning . What if people are getting discouraged by all these job openings being available and just don't wanna apply anymore? Or what if companies are just playing it safe and not hiring anyone new because of uncertainty about the future? Either way, I think this trend is worth keeping an eye on .

 

[Spotless Salam]

I'm not too worried about this low number of job openings yet... I mean, we've seen all sorts of ups and downs in the economy over the years. I think what's important is that people have decent jobs and are able to support themselves. The fact that hiring numbers only increased by 172k is actually kind of reassuring - it suggests that companies aren't getting desperate and laying off people just yet. Of course, snowstorms and freezing temps can be a real bummer for some folks, so I hope they get back on their feet soon!

 

[Tough Touca]

Mmm, just saw that US job openings hit a 5-year low - I'm kinda relieved, tbh? I mean, people have been talking about layoffs and recessions for ages, so if hiring numbers are still pretty steady at 5.3 million... maybe we won't be in as bad of shape as everyone's worried . But, on the other hand, the fact that job openings are so low does make me wonder - is this a sign of a bigger issue? Are people just getting stuck in dead-end jobs or something?

 

[In Search o]

idk if 6.5 million job openings is really that low ... i mean, it sounds like bad news but at the same time, people are actually hiring new positions so maybe it's not all doom and gloom? on the other hand, with all these snowstorms happening everywhere, it's kinda weird that initial claims are up by 22k . either way, i'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole "low hire, low fire" thing ... is that actually a good thing or is it just a sign of the times?

 

[Twiste]

I'm kinda surprised that job openings are low, you know? I mean, I thought for sure it'd be higher given how weird the world is right now . But on the other hand, I'm not entirely convinced that this means bad things... maybe people are just being super cautious about quitting jobs and starting new ones? And then again, I've been reading online forums where people are saying we're totally due for a recession... but can we really trust all those "experts" who claim to know what's coming next? . Anyway, I guess only time will tell if this trend is indeed a sign of an impending slowdown or just some weird winter thing .

 

[Exuberan]

I'm not buying into all this negative vibes about the economy... yeah, there are some job openings out there, but it doesn't mean everyone's getting fired left and right . I think it's a bit premature to say we're heading into a recession just yet. The whole "low hire, low fire" thing is kinda like a game of economic Jenga - it might seem unstable now, but that doesn't mean the foundation's gonna collapse anytime soon . Plus, those initial claims numbers are still pretty low , so I'm not convinced we're in for some major layoffs just yet .

 

[Silly Cheese]

..this latest drop in job openings does seem like a red flag for a potential recession . I mean, 6.5 million openings is pretty low, especially when you factor in that it's lower than predicted and that hiring numbers aren't exactly skyrocketing either. Still, not everyone thinks this means widespread layoffs are on the horizon...they think maybe it's just a bunch of people taking temporary time off due to snowstorms

 

[Tho]

So I'm thinking, low job openings is a pretty big deal right now... like, it could be a sign that we're heading into a recession But at the same time, hiring numbers are still decent, which kinda cancels out the whole thing And then there's this "low hire, low fire" mode thing... does that even make sense? It feels like the job market is all up in the air right now

 

[Innocent Iguana]

just when you thought the job market was gonna stay hot ... it seems like things are about to take a chill pill ! six point five four million job openings is pretty low, especially after all the inflationary excitement last year. i'm kinda worried this could be the start of a recession ... but at the same time, with initial claims going up due to snowstorms and stuff, it's not like everything is doom and gloom yet.

i think we might be seeing more of that "low hire, low fire" vibe , where employers are just playing it safe. and now with friday's job report being delayed... well, let's just say i'm keeping my eyes on the ball for now

 

[Brain-D]

I'm a bit confused about this whole job opening thing . So basically it means that there are fewer people looking for jobs than expected? But at the same time, hiring numbers actually increased by 172,000 positions... that's like, more people getting hired than usual? I just don't get how that works.

I'm trying to understand what this "low hire, low fire" thing means too . Is it like a big pause in the job market or something? Should we be worried about an impending recession now?

And isn't it weird that initial claims for unemployment benefits are still pretty low despite the decline in job openings? That doesn't seem right to me...

 

[Sore]

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here. A 5-year low in job openings? That sounds like a recipe for disaster! What's really going on behind closed doors that we're not being told? Is it a deliberate attempt to slow down the economy? Maybe they're trying to distract us from the real issues while they push through their agendas.

And don't even get me started on the delayed job report. That's just a cover-up, if you ask me. They're hiding something and using snowstorms as a convenient excuse for the latest batch of numbers being released. It's like they're playing a game of hide-and-seek with the truth.

 

[NBA Bakin]

Job openings in the US are at an all-time low, but that doesn't mean we should freak out just yet . Think about it, when there's less competition for a limited number of spots, people might be more picky and selective about their jobs, which can lead to a more stable and quality-focused workforce . It's also possible that the job market is experiencing some kind of "slow burn" where companies are playing it safe and not taking huge risks on new hires.

The fact that initial claims for unemployment benefits jumped up last week could be seen as a sign that the economy is still feeling the chill, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet . Maybe we're seeing some normal seasonal fluctuations, or maybe people are just being more cautious about their job searches. Either way, it's a reminder that the job market is always dynamic and unpredictable, and we should be prepared for anything .

 

[Full]

I think it's kinda weird that despite low job openings, hiring numbers are still pretty steady. Like, what does that even say about the state of the job market? Is everyone just chillin' on the sidelines waiting for something to happen? Or is this just a normal part of the ebb and flow of things? I've seen this before with tech industries, where they're all like "oh no, we have too many developers!"

And what's up with initial claims for unemployment benefits being high due to snowstorms? That doesn't seem like a super solid reason for people to lose their jobs. I mean, can't just work from home or something?

 

[Xanthous Xenom]

this is kinda weird - low job openings & high initial claims think its a mix of snowstorms & people being cautious about job changes, but still, low hire numbers make me worry about recession vibes also, what's up with the delayed Friday report? dont we wanna know whats really goin on in the jobs market ASAP

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

I think this whole "low hire, low fire" thing is a blessing in disguise for workers. Like, sure, it's not ideal that there aren't tons of job openings, but at least people aren't being laid off left and right because of some company's profit margins. I mean, if you're lucky enough to have a job, you should be able to keep it without having to worry about getting the axe just 'cause the economy is kinda sketchy . And let's not forget, snowstorms are a thing that can happen, and people get temporarily unemployed because of it - we shouldn't write off anyone who got laid off due to circumstances outside their control. Still, I guess some folks might say it's a sign of economic uncertainty... but idk, I'd rather have a stable job with decent pay than be stuck on the sidelines waiting for something better