Job Openings Fall To Covid Lockdown Levels

gathering of people in an office
Via Flickr
Adé Hennis
October 7, 2025

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary for July on September 3, with data showing that job openings fell to about 7.18 million. That’s the second-lowest number since the end of 2020.

Further data released during the week showed that unemployment increased to 4.3%, the highest level since September 2017, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 25% of all unemployed workers have been jobless for over six months, the highest since June 2016.

These grim numbers have contributed to the drop in President Trump’s approval rating, from 42% in February, to 37% in August, according to a Gallup poll. In early August, Trump fired Erika McEntarfe, Head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accusing her of reporting inaccurate job data despite a complete lack of evidence.

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, believes the labor data for the last few months show signs of a weakening labor market. “It’s yet another crack. This is yet another data point underscoring how this job market is frozen and it’s difficult for anyone to get a job right now.”

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for August 2025 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

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