Monthly job openings specifically within the retail trade sector (JOLTS, sector-level). A sector-specific labor-demand read rather than the headline aggregate jobs number most platforms show — retailers ramp hiring ahead of demand they're forecasting, so this is a real-time read on retailer confidence, especially ahead of peak seasons.
Retailers post seasonal and structural openings ahead of realized demand; a pullback in retail-sector openings has historically preceded softer same-store-sales guidance by one to two quarters.
| Factor family | Labor |
| Relative weight | Supporting |
| Update cadence | Monthly |
| Modeled lead | ~6 weeks (a modeling assumption, not a validated finding) |
| Data source | FRED |
The lead time above is a design assumption, not an out-of-sample-validated relationship for a specific security or index. This is one Labor input among 47; it measures macro context, not a full investment thesis.
WMT · TGT · COST · HD · LOW · AMZN
| Date | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-06 | 72/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-09-05 | 72/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-09-04 | 72/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-09-03 | 72/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-09-02 | 72/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-09-01 | 79/100 | ▲ Bullish |
| 2026-08-31 | 80/100 | ▲ Bullish |
Unstructured Alpha weighs Job Openings: Retail Trade alongside 46 other macro signals to build a Confluence Score for each stock. See how this signal is currently shaping the macro backdrop for the tickers you follow.
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Scores are derived from macro signals (FRED, EIA, SEC filings, FINRA short interest)
and updated as new data arrives. This is not financial advice. Past signal accuracy
does not guarantee future results.
unstructuredalpha.com · Not financial advice