U.S. job openings hit their lowest level since September last year

U.S. job openings fell more than expected in December to a three-month low, in line with a gradual slowdown in the labor market. U.S. JOLTs job openings fell to 7.60 million in December from a revised 8.16 million in November, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figure was lower than economists had generally expected. The decrease in job openings was driven by professional and business services, partially reversing the surge seen in the previous two months. Health care and social assistance, as well as finance and insurance, also fell sharply. Job openings returned to a downward trend after a sharp increase in the first two months, the data showed. That should continue to depress wage growth, < b > and support the Federal Reserve's claim that the job market is no longer a source of inflationary pressure.