Job openings in the US just climbed to their highest level in nearly two years, according to the latest JOLTS data. On paper, that sounds simple: more openings, more opportunity. But if you’ve been hiring or job searching lately, you already know it’s not that straightforward. This jump in openings is a signal. It tells us something about where the labor market is heading, and it has real consequences for how quickly roles get filled, how competitive compensation needs to be, and how...

The headlines say the U.S. economy just logged its third straight month of strong job growth, adding around 172,000 jobs in May. Sounds great. But if you’re a job seeker who’s been sending out resumes with little response, or an employer struggling to fill the same role for months, it might not feel great. That gap between the numbers and the lived reality is exactly where job seekers and hiring managers get tripped up. The labor market looks strong on paper Let’s start with the big picture....

The May 2026 jobs report looks strong on the surface. Payrolls are up again, headlines are positive, and on paper it feels like the labor market is still humming along. But if you work in hiring or you’re out there job searching, it probably doesn’t feel nearly as simple as that. Indeed Hiring Lab’s breakdown of the May report points to something most recruiters and candidates are already sensing: we’re living through two different labor markets at the same time. One headline, two realities...