(Sharecast News) - September's JOLTS job report revealed the number of job openings in the US had fallen by 418,000 to 7.44m last month, the lowest level seen since January 2021.

Last month's numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics were down from a revised print of 7.86m in August and short of analysts' expectations for a reading of 7.99m, indicating a cooling labour market.

Job openings decreased in health care and social assistance, as well as in government but increased in finance and insurance.

Meanwhile, the number of hires and total separations was little changed at 5.6m and 5.2m, respectively.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com