Washington (Reuters) – The number of job offers in the United States increased more sharply than expected in August but hires has decreased, a slowdown in the labor market which could allow the Federal Reserve (Fed) to reduce interest rates again next month.

These offers increased to 7.227 million last month, compared to 7.208 million (revised of 7.181 million) in July, according to the latest “Jolts” report (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) of the Labor Department.

The economists interviewed by Reuters tabled out of 7.185 million job offers in August.

However, hires decreased by 114,000 to 5.126 million in August. The layoffs also fell from 62,000 to 1.725 million.

These data could be the last to be published for a while, because the US government is likely to be paralyzed if it cannot find an agreement on the budget before midnight.

The labor and trade departments warned on Monday that all data publications, including the September employment report on Friday, would be suspended in the event of “Shutdown”.

The American labor market is weakening due to the slowdown in the demand for labor, a situation that economists attribute to persistent uncertainty linked to customs duties on imports. The repression of immigration on the part of the White House has also reduced the offer of workers, creating what the president of the Fed, Jerome Powell, described “curious balance”.

Economists expect the Fed to attach more importance to the health of the labor market at the time of deciding on its rates. According to a Reuters survey conducted with economists, the number of non -agricultural job creations increased by 50,000 in September, after an increase of only 22,000 in August. The unemployment rate should remain unchanged at 4.3%.

(Report Lucia Mutikani, written by Diana Mandiá, edited by Kate Entringer)

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