U.S. job openings fell to their lowest level in more than a year in November, and hiring activity slowed, indicating that employers are becoming increasingly cautious. Data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the number of job openings in November fell to 7.15 million from a revised 7.45 million in the previous month. The median forecast among economists surveyed was approximately 7.6 million. The decline in job openings reflects shrinking opportunities in the leisure and hospitality, healthcare and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing sectors. Hiring fell to its lowest level since mid-2024, while layoffs also decreased. The decline in job openings and the slowdown in hiring further reinforce the view that the labor market remains weak, although businesses are largely still avoiding direct layoffs.