Job openings soar to record high 9.3 million, raising fears of labor shortage

Job openings soared to a record high at the end of April, the labor Labor Department said Tuesday, adding to fears about unfulfilled demand for workers.

The number of available jobs rose by about 1 million to 9.3 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, the highest number since the agency began keeping track in 2000.

"Demand for workers is surging as the broader economy starts to emerge from the pandemic," said Indeed Hiring Lab director of research Nick Bunker. "At the same time, supply is restrained as workers are slow to find their post-pandemic normal."

Some conservative economists and Republicans argue that the federal government's jobless benefit boost is a significant part of the problem.