WASHINGTON — The Associated Press reports, U.S. job openings fell

slightly in June, but the labor market continued to show resilience in the face of an economic shock from fighting in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In June Employers posted 7.36 million vacancies,

down from 7.54 million in May, the Labor Department said on August

Fourth. The numbers were in line with economist expectations.

Openings rose by 97,000 at warehouse, transportation and utility

companies and 39,000 at federal government agencies. Openings

dropped at wholesalers and manufacturers of nondurable goods.

Layoffs were little-changed at 1.8 million, and the number of people,

who were quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects

rose slightly. The gross number of people hired — before subtracting

those who quit or lost their jobs — rose slightly 5.3 million. But hiring is

weaker than it was in the jobs boom that followed pandemic lockdowns.  Then, gross monthly hiring often topped 6 million.