How Job Openings Are Surging While Hiring Stays Flat

Episode 60 of The Economic Forecast Podcast dives into the puzzling divergence between surging job openings and stagnant hiring. Lucas and Luna analyze the latest JOLTS data from April 2026, which shows openings jumping to 7.6 million while payroll growth remains sluggish. They explore structural factors like skills mismatches, geographic immobility, and employer caution in a high-interest-rate environment. The hosts also discuss how the Fed's new chairman, Kevin Warsh, might interpret these signals. Specific data referenced includes the 7,618,000 openings versus 159 million nonfarm payrolls, and the Fed funds rate at 3.63%. A donation segment ties listener support to keeping the show ad-free and independent. #JOLTS #JobOpenings #HiringSlowdown #LaborMarket #Fed #KevinWarsh #MonetaryPolicy #SkillsMismatch #WorkerShortage #EconomicData #April2026 #Employment #Inflation #InterestRates #JobMarket #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo