US jobless claims increase as job openings reach five-year low

U.S. jobless claims rose significantly last week due to winter storms, while job openings fell to a five-year low. The increase in initial jobless claims was the largest since early December. Job openings declined in December, primarily concentrated in the professional and business services sector. Economists suggest these reports indicate a stable labor market, with businesses hesitant to hire due to economic uncertainties like tariffs and AI.