U.S. job openings jump, but hiring weakens, signaling tighter labor market

Job openings climbed sharply in April, but hiring and resignations both cooled, a combination that points to a labor market that is still open for business but far less fluid than it was in the last hiring rush. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said openings rose to 7.6 million, up 731,000 from March, while hires fell to 5.1 million and total separations slipped to 5.0 million.

The details matter for Target because this was not the kind of broad-based hiring surge that usually eases store staffing pressure. Quits were 3.0 million in April and layoffs and discharges were 1.7 million, both little changed. The openings rate rose to 4.6%, but the hires rate was only 3.2% and the quits rate was 1.9%, a sign that workers were less inclined to move and employers were not converting postings into starts as quickly as before.

BLS said nearly all of the April increase in openings came from businesses with 1 to 9 employees. By contrast, establishments with 5,000 or more workers saw little or no change in most turnover measures. For a large retailer like Target, that suggests the labor market is not delivering a wave of easy-to-fill candidates just because openings are up on paper. It also means store leaders may need to work harder on retention, scheduling and cross-training instead of assuming outside labor will solve coverage gaps.

Target has already been moving money toward stores, training and payroll. On March 3, the company said it planned an incremental $2 billion in 2026 investment, including more than $1 billion in capital expenditures and $1 billion in operating investments. Hundreds of millions of dollars were set aside for additional store payroll and training, part of a push to refresh layouts, improve guest experience and strengthen team training and career growth.

The chain sharpened that shift on February 9, when it said it would cut about 500 roles at distribution centers and regional offices while putting more labor into stores. Target said the added payroll would go toward additional labor and hours where needed most, along with new guest-experience training for every team member at every store. Starting wages for store workers remained at $15 to $24 an hour, depending on location.

For team members considering an internal move, that means openings may exist but competition for the right hours, shifts and roles is likely to stay tight. For external applicants, the market is still producing postings, but not the kind of churn that guarantees quick movement. For managers, the message is clear: in a cooler labor market, the best staffing advantage comes from keeping experienced people in place, not from waiting for turnover to do the work. The next JOLTS release for May 2026 is scheduled for June 30.