U.S. job openings rose to nearly 7 million in January, better than expected at a time when the American labor market has looked sluggish. The Labor Department said Friday that 6.95 million job postings in January were up from 6.55 million in December and higher than economists had forecast. Layoffs fell slightly and the number of Americans quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — slipped modestly. In the hiring boom that followed COVID-19 lockdowns, job openings peaked at a record 12.3 million in March 2022.
