May 5, 2026 at 7:08 am Updated May 5, 2026 at 7:50 am WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings were essentially unchanged in March but hiring improved before the full impact of the Iran war hit the economy. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 6.87 million jobs in March, compared to 6.92 million in February. The job market has been up and down so far this year after a dismal 2025. And the Iran war, which began Feb. 28, has clouded the outlook for the economy and hiring. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that layoffs rose in March. But hiring improved: Employers added 5.55 million gross jobs, most since February 2024. More Americans also quit their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects. Related Job openings have come down more or less steadily since peaking at a record 12.3 million in March 2022 as the U.S. economy bounded back from COVID-19 lockdowns.…