Leaders balance renewed confidence with cautious hiring

U.S. job openings edged down to 7.1 million in August, while hiring remained subdued and fewer workers quit. At the same time, layoffs fell. The mix points to a labor market where employers are holding on to staff but adding people slowly, leaving managers to make decisions in a climate of limited movement rather than a broad hiring surge.

Business leaders sounded more optimistic about the economy in September, and chief executives reported stronger hiring intentions than earlier in the year. Yet confidence has not removed caution: financial leaders described expectations for demand and employment as steady, while smaller or financially constrained firms reported greater difficulty. The work of setting direction therefore includes weighing growth plans against cost pressures and uneven conditions across businesses.

Legal work showed a sharper hiring pulse. Mid-sized law practices are beginning to map priorities for 2027 amid competition for talent, rising expenses and operational change. Separately, tracked attorney moves rose 43% in September from August, reaching the highest monthly level in that data series so far this year. A substantial share of the increase came from lawyers finishing clerkships, so the jump reflects a seasonal pipeline as well as movement between firms. Across leadership, sales and advisory work, the month brought both signs of renewed ambition and evidence that staffing decisions remain selective.