U.S. job openings edged lower in June as employers posted 7.36 million vacancies—down from 7.54 million in May—signaling a continued cooling in the domestic labor market while demonstrating overall resilience. The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released by the Labor Department aligned closely with economists’ expectations.

Despite broader economic pressures—including volatile energy prices driven by ongoing conflict in Iran and supply chain disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz—layoffs remained largely flat at 1.8 million. Meanwhile, the number of workers voluntarily quitting their jobs saw a slight uptick, pointing to sustained worker confidence in finding alternative employment.

The figures reflect a steady recovery from last year’s hiring slowdown, with U.S. employers adding an average of 92,000 jobs per month so far this year. Economists attribute the shift in hiring dynamics partly to shifting demographics and tighter labor supply. The Labor Department is set to publish the full monthly payroll and unemployment data for July later this week, with forecasters anticipating job additions of approximately 100,000 and the national unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%.