Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) · total nonfarm
How many job openings, hires and quits does the JOLTS report count?
There were 7,079,000 job openings in the US at the end of August 2026 (preliminary), 1.0 unemployed people per opening (seasonally adjusted, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on ).
Job openings on the last business day of each month, seasonally adjusted
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to , to , to .
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to .
Hires, quits and layoffs and discharges during each month, seasonally adjusted
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to , to , to .
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to .
The lines
- Hires5.19M
- Quits3.07M
- Layoffs and discharges1.64M
The job openings, quits and layoffs rates each month, seasonally adjusted
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to , to , to .
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to .
The lines
- Job openings rate4.3%
- Quits rate1.9%
- Layoffs and discharges rate1.0%
Unemployed people per job opening, each month
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to , to , to .
Shaded bands are US recessions as the National Bureau of Economic Research dates them: to .
Each point is one month as BLS publishes it: openings on the month's last business day, hires and separations during the month; August 2026 is preliminary. Pointing at the chart shows the month and the value.
Select a line to follow
Inspect and compare dates
The latest month beside the one before it and the nearest ones a year, five and ten years earlier. The months of the last ten years and every year since 2000 are in the tables under "The numbers behind the chart".
| Measure | Latest | The month before | A year earlier | Five years earlier | Ten years earlier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | |||||
| Job openings, thousands | 7,079 | 7,335 | 6,919 | 10,872 | 5,677 |
| Job openings rate | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 6.9% | 3.8% |
| Hires, thousands | 5,192 | 5,146 | 5,145 | 6,394 | 5,327 |
| Quits rate | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.0% | 2.8% | 2.1% |
| Unemployed per opening | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
Observed .
Right now
There were 7.08 million job openings at the end of August 2026 (preliminary), the fewest since March 2026.
BLS counts 7,079,000 openings, a job openings rate of 4.3%; 256,000 fewer than in July 2026 (ours). There were 1.0 unemployed people for each opening.
ChangeOurs
| Period | Then | Change |
|---|---|---|
| One month | 7,335 thousand in | −3.5% |
| Three months | 7,537 thousand in | −6.1% |
| Twelve months | 6,919 thousand in | +2.3% |
| Five years | 10,872 thousand in | −34.9% |
| Ten years | 5,677 thousand in | +24.7% |
In historyOurs
The job openings of 7,079 thousand in were higher than in 232 of the 308 other months since , the same in 0 and lower in 76.
Highest since : 12,301 thousand in . Lowest since : 2,232 thousand in .
AverageOurs
Average since : 5,515.2 thousand (ours, a plain mean of the 309 months).
Hires and separationsDuring August 2026
Employers hired 5,192,000 people (a rate of 3.3%). 3,066,000 quit (1.9%) and 1,641,000 were laid off or discharged (1.0%).
By industryJob openings rate
The job openings rate was highest in private education and health services, 5.0%, and lowest in construction, 2.9%.
Job openings by industry, largest first
Hires by industry, largest first
Quits by industry, largest first
Layoffs and discharges by industry, largest first
Each bar is one industry's count for the month, in thousands of jobs, largest first. Under the openings and the quits is the rate BLS publishes with them. Every industry is also in the table of the numbers behind the chart.
Observed .
Understanding job openings
Where it stands today
There were 7,079,000 job openings at the end of August 2026 (preliminary).
What does JOLTS count?
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics asks a sample of employers each month how many jobs they had open on the last business day of the month, and how many people they hired and how many left during it. A job counts as open when a specific position exists, work could start within thirty days and the employer is recruiting from outside the business.
Read more
Separations are quits (people who left by choice), layoffs and discharges (separations the employer started) and other separations such as retirements. The hires, quits and layoffs rates are each count as a share of employment; the job openings rate is openings as a share of employment plus openings. Unemployed people per opening divides the unemployed of the Current Population Survey by the openings. BLS publishes each month about five weeks after it ends; the newest month is preliminary and revised in the next release.
What 500metrics adds: the last month with more or fewer openings, the change from the month before, each calendar year's averages and the industries ranked by their job openings rate.
The numbers behind the chart
How many job openings were there in each month?The 120 months since Sep 2016, newest first; each year since 2000 is in the next table
| Month | Openings | Rate | Hires | Quits | Quits rate | Layoffs | Per opening | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,079 | 4.3% | 5,192 | 3,066 | 1.9% | 1,641 | 1.0 | Preliminary | |
| 7,335 | 4.4% | 5,146 | 3,089 | 1.9% | 1,702 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,182 | 4.3% | 5,332 | 3,213 | 2.0% | 1,785 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,537 | 4.5% | 5,252 | 3,153 | 2.0% | 1,761 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,585 | 4.6% | 5,215 | 3,043 | 1.9% | 1,667 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,887 | 4.2% | 5,535 | 3,160 | 2.0% | 1,884 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,922 | 4.2% | 4,899 | 3,046 | 1.9% | 1,714 | 1.1 | ||
| 7,240 | 4.4% | 5,347 | 3,131 | 2.0% | 1,660 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,550 | 4.0% | 5,272 | 3,225 | 2.0% | 1,666 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,846 | 4.1% | 5,019 | 3,119 | 2.0% | 1,660 | 1.1 | ||
| 7,170 | 4.3% | 5,180 | 2,980 | 1.9% | 1,891 | n/a | ||
| 7,169 | 4.3% | 5,244 | 2,990 | 1.9% | 1,816 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,919 | 4.2% | 5,145 | 3,095 | 2.0% | 1,832 | 1.1 | ||
| 7,089 | 4.3% | 5,225 | 3,132 | 2.0% | 1,772 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,204 | 4.3% | 5,327 | 3,254 | 2.1% | 1,843 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,310 | 4.4% | 5,328 | 3,287 | 2.1% | 1,671 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,098 | 4.3% | 5,391 | 3,144 | 2.0% | 1,818 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,952 | 4.2% | 5,333 | 3,456 | 2.2% | 1,595 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,242 | 4.4% | 5,236 | 3,153 | 2.0% | 1,867 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,431 | 4.5% | 5,238 | 3,203 | 2.0% | 1,738 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,295 | 4.4% | 5,292 | 3,085 | 1.9% | 1,689 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,566 | 4.6% | 5,155 | 3,050 | 1.9% | 1,831 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,379 | 4.5% | 5,228 | 3,215 | 2.0% | 1,650 | 0.9 | ||
| 6,943 | 4.2% | 5,427 | 3,123 | 2.0% | 1,780 | 1.0 |
Show 96 more rows
| Month | Openings | Rate | Hires | Quits | Quits rate | Layoffs | Per opening | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,520 | 4.6% | 5,204 | 3,240 | 2.1% | 1,683 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,426 | 4.5% | 5,430 | 3,359 | 2.1% | 1,711 | 1.0 | ||
| 7,416 | 4.5% | 5,137 | 3,280 | 2.1% | 1,497 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,782 | 4.7% | 5,492 | 3,386 | 2.1% | 1,747 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,529 | 4.6% | 5,469 | 3,438 | 2.2% | 1,548 | 0.9 | ||
| 8,206 | 5.0% | 5,452 | 3,289 | 2.1% | 1,647 | 0.8 | ||
| 8,440 | 5.1% | 5,618 | 3,482 | 2.2% | 1,692 | 0.8 | ||
| 8,378 | 5.1% | 5,591 | 3,347 | 2.1% | 1,641 | 0.7 | ||
| 8,520 | 5.2% | 5,583 | 3,412 | 2.2% | 1,685 | 0.7 | ||
| 8,602 | 5.2% | 5,535 | 3,576 | 2.3% | 1,554 | 0.7 | ||
| 8,580 | 5.2% | 5,765 | 3,574 | 2.3% | 1,623 | 0.8 | ||
| 9,259 | 5.6% | 5,773 | 3,644 | 2.3% | 1,531 | 0.7 | ||
| 9,254 | 5.6% | 5,846 | 3,621 | 2.3% | 1,675 | 0.7 | ||
| 8,657 | 5.3% | 5,672 | 3,552 | 2.3% | 1,677 | 0.7 | ||
| 9,180 | 5.6% | 5,928 | 3,693 | 2.4% | 1,658 | 0.7 | ||
| 9,368 | 5.7% | 6,119 | 3,999 | 2.6% | 1,540 | 0.6 | ||
| 9,966 | 6.0% | 5,876 | 3,617 | 2.3% | 1,654 | 0.6 | ||
| 9,655 | 5.9% | 5,925 | 3,800 | 2.4% | 1,903 | 0.6 | ||
| 9,857 | 6.0% | 5,989 | 3,917 | 2.5% | 1,535 | 0.6 | ||
| 10,318 | 6.2% | 6,370 | 3,839 | 2.5% | 1,767 | 0.6 | ||
| 10,902 | 6.6% | 6,163 | 4,125 | 2.7% | 1,535 | 0.5 | ||
| 10,632 | 6.4% | 6,180 | 4,083 | 2.6% | 1,472 | 0.6 | ||
| 10,447 | 6.4% | 6,151 | 3,956 | 2.6% | 1,553 | 0.6 | ||
| 10,800 | 6.6% | 6,201 | 4,134 | 2.7% | 1,445 | 0.5 | ||
| 10,092 | 6.2% | 6,448 | 4,258 | 2.8% | 1,606 | 0.6 | ||
| 11,576 | 7.0% | 6,478 | 4,031 | 2.6% | 1,462 | 0.5 | ||
| 11,283 | 6.9% | 6,487 | 4,165 | 2.7% | 1,528 | 0.5 | ||
| 11,535 | 7.1% | 6,440 | 4,237 | 2.8% | 1,500 | 0.5 | ||
| 11,861 | 7.3% | 6,528 | 4,499 | 3.0% | 1,312 | 0.5 | ||
| 12,301 | 7.5% | 6,619 | 4,447 | 2.9% | 1,377 | 0.5 | ||
| 11,698 | 7.2% | 6,801 | 4,233 | 2.8% | 1,401 | 0.5 | ||
| 11,210 | 7.0% | 6,431 | 4,413 | 2.9% | 1,423 | 0.6 | ||
| 11,520 | 7.1% | 6,686 | 4,314 | 2.9% | 1,403 | 0.6 | ||
| 11,199 | 7.0% | 6,911 | 4,453 | 3.0% | 1,348 | 0.6 | ||
| 11,238 | 7.0% | 6,678 | 4,153 | 2.8% | 1,313 | 0.6 | ||
| 10,834 | 6.8% | 6,632 | 4,354 | 2.9% | 1,411 | 0.7 | ||
| 10,872 | 6.9% | 6,394 | 4,171 | 2.8% | 1,332 | 0.8 | ||
| 10,983 | 7.0% | 6,720 | 4,059 | 2.8% | 1,410 | 0.8 | ||
| 10,319 | 6.6% | 6,535 | 4,017 | 2.8% | 1,335 | 0.9 | ||
| 9,954 | 6.4% | 5,981 | 3,817 | 2.6% | 1,351 | 0.9 | ||
| 9,346 | 6.1% | 6,138 | 3,943 | 2.7% | 1,402 | 1.0 | ||
| 8,499 | 5.6% | 6,158 | 3,654 | 2.5% | 1,500 | 1.1 | ||
| 7,827 | 5.2% | 5,813 | 3,373 | 2.4% | 1,628 | 1.3 | ||
| 7,162 | 4.8% | 5,598 | 3,292 | 2.3% | 1,567 | 1.4 | ||
| 6,773 | 4.5% | 5,577 | 3,369 | 2.4% | 1,906 | 1.6 | ||
| 6,820 | 4.6% | 5,894 | 3,209 | 2.2% | 2,097 | 1.6 | ||
| 6,798 | 4.6% | 6,091 | 3,311 | 2.3% | 1,697 | 1.6 | ||
| 6,511 | 4.4% | 5,966 | 3,185 | 2.2% | 1,567 | 1.9 | ||
| 6,429 | 4.4% | 6,004 | 2,931 | 2.1% | 1,560 | 2.1 | ||
| 6,530 | 4.5% | 6,320 | 3,020 | 2.2% | 1,827 | 2.5 | ||
| 6,129 | 4.3% | 7,477 | 2,594 | 1.9% | 2,245 | 2.9 | ||
| 5,612 | 4.0% | 8,133 | 2,259 | 1.7% | 2,139 | 3.7 | ||
| 4,606 | 3.4% | 4,029 | 1,991 | 1.5% | 9,170 | 5.0 | ||
| 5,894 | 3.8% | 5,171 | 2,933 | 1.9% | 12,985 | 1.2 | ||
| 6,966 | 4.4% | 5,990 | 3,497 | 2.3% | 1,954 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,124 | 4.5% | 5,981 | 3,563 | 2.3% | 1,808 | 0.8 | ||
| 6,699 | 4.2% | 5,951 | 3,487 | 2.3% | 1,931 | 0.9 | ||
| 6,888 | 4.3% | 5,847 | 3,541 | 2.3% | 1,782 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,289 | 4.6% | 5,781 | 3,452 | 2.3% | 1,819 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,124 | 4.5% | 5,963 | 3,447 | 2.3% | 1,970 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,178 | 4.5% | 5,900 | 3,540 | 2.3% | 1,808 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,042 | 4.5% | 5,871 | 3,654 | 2.4% | 1,833 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,194 | 4.6% | 5,801 | 3,474 | 2.3% | 1,780 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,275 | 4.6% | 5,686 | 3,472 | 2.3% | 1,775 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,272 | 4.6% | 6,016 | 3,501 | 2.3% | 1,963 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,317 | 4.6% | 5,689 | 3,529 | 2.3% | 1,690 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,066 | 4.5% | 5,704 | 3,547 | 2.4% | 1,763 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,502 | 4.8% | 5,786 | 3,517 | 2.3% | 1,705 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,489 | 4.8% | 5,768 | 3,407 | 2.3% | 1,839 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,594 | 4.8% | 5,826 | 3,511 | 2.3% | 1,938 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,304 | 4.7% | 5,907 | 3,458 | 2.3% | 1,813 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,411 | 4.7% | 5,625 | 3,391 | 2.3% | 1,764 | 0.8 | ||
| 7,208 | 4.6% | 5,815 | 3,423 | 2.3% | 1,803 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,190 | 4.6% | 5,649 | 3,426 | 2.3% | 1,806 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,230 | 4.6% | 5,760 | 3,382 | 2.3% | 1,822 | 0.9 | ||
| 7,016 | 4.5% | 5,859 | 3,382 | 2.3% | 1,775 | 0.9 | ||
| 6,877 | 4.4% | 5,590 | 3,370 | 2.3% | 1,727 | 0.9 | ||
| 6,818 | 4.4% | 5,623 | 3,323 | 2.2% | 1,795 | 0.9 | ||
| 6,552 | 4.2% | 5,624 | 3,222 | 2.2% | 1,771 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,621 | 4.3% | 5,512 | 3,019 | 2.0% | 1,932 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,336 | 4.1% | 5,421 | 3,222 | 2.2% | 1,732 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,271 | 4.1% | 5,494 | 3,186 | 2.2% | 1,747 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,408 | 4.2% | 5,581 | 3,219 | 2.2% | 1,837 | 1.0 | ||
| 6,320 | 4.1% | 5,450 | 3,190 | 2.2% | 1,787 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,276 | 4.1% | 5,519 | 3,103 | 2.1% | 1,868 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,238 | 4.1% | 5,497 | 3,097 | 2.1% | 1,910 | 1.1 | ||
| 6,305 | 4.1% | 5,635 | 3,154 | 2.2% | 1,970 | 1.1 | ||
| 5,826 | 3.8% | 5,477 | 3,111 | 2.1% | 1,794 | 1.2 | ||
| 6,091 | 4.0% | 5,272 | 3,028 | 2.1% | 1,710 | 1.2 | ||
| 5,811 | 3.8% | 5,395 | 3,150 | 2.2% | 1,762 | 1.2 | ||
| 5,923 | 3.9% | 5,350 | 3,089 | 2.1% | 1,711 | 1.2 | ||
| 5,617 | 3.7% | 5,499 | 3,188 | 2.2% | 1,745 | 1.3 | ||
| 5,964 | 3.9% | 5,343 | 2,989 | 2.1% | 1,708 | 1.3 | ||
| 5,971 | 4.0% | 5,308 | 3,026 | 2.1% | 1,751 | 1.3 | ||
| 5,591 | 3.7% | 5,210 | 3,074 | 2.1% | 1,664 | 1.4 | ||
| 5,868 | 3.9% | 5,306 | 3,047 | 2.1% | 1,588 | 1.4 |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
How many openings, hires and quits were there in each year?27 calendar years, newest first
| Year | Openings | Hires | Quits | Layoffs | Quits rate | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7,221 | 5,240 | 3,113 | 1,727 | 2.0% | So far |
| 2025 | 7,082 | 5,245 | 3,170 | 1,764 | 2.0% | All |
| 2024 | 7,657 | 5,375 | 3,274 | 1,676 | 2.1% | All |
| 2023 | 9,268 | 5,865 | 3,687 | 1,650 | 2.4% | All |
| 2022 | 11,195 | 6,411 | 4,215 | 1,468 | 2.8% | All |
| 2021 | 9,979 | 6,354 | 3,967 | 1,417 | 2.7% | All |
| 2020 | 6,349 | 6,053 | 2,988 | 3,413 | 2.1% | All |
| 2019 | 7,154 | 5,833 | 3,513 | 1,818 | 2.3% | All |
| 2018 | 7,109 | 5,713 | 3,360 | 1,815 | 2.3% | All |
| 2017 | 6,118 | 5,466 | 3,145 | 1,798 | 2.2% | All |
Show 17 more rows
| Year | Openings | Hires | Quits | Layoffs | Quits rate | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5,856 | 5,312 | 2,989 | 1,769 | 2.1% | All |
| 2015 | 5,564 | 5,218 | 2,804 | 1,814 | 2.0% | All |
| 2014 | 4,773 | 4,912 | 2,535 | 1,761 | 1.8% | All |
| 2013 | 4,070 | 4,573 | 2,289 | 1,751 | 1.7% | All |
| 2012 | 3,841 | 4,447 | 2,084 | 1,846 | 1.5% | All |
| 2011 | 3,430 | 4,305 | 1,972 | 1,840 | 1.5% | All |
| 2010 | 2,969 | 4,138 | 1,858 | 1,879 | 1.4% | All |
| 2009 | 2,501 | 3,898 | 1,745 | 2,288 | 1.3% | All |
| 2008 | 3,799 | 4,702 | 2,535 | 2,113 | 1.8% | All |
| 2007 | 4,688 | 5,314 | 2,905 | 1,955 | 2.1% | All |
| 2006 | 4,585 | 5,396 | 2,975 | 1,856 | 2.2% | All |
| 2005 | 4,108 | 5,313 | 2,811 | 1,971 | 2.1% | All |
| 2004 | 3,642 | 5,042 | 2,564 | 1,973 | 1.9% | All |
| 2003 | 3,238 | 4,747 | 2,357 | 2,025 | 1.8% | All |
| 2002 | 3,453 | 4,850 | 2,547 | 1,970 | 2.0% | All |
| 2001 | 4,350 | 5,210 | 2,906 | 2,066 | 2.2% | All |
| 2000 | 5,088 | 5,426 | 2,882 | 2,018 | 2.2% | All |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
Which industries had the most openings?August 2026, by job openings rate
| Industry | Openings | Rate | Hires | Quits | Quits rate | Layoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private education and health services | 1,484 | 5.0% | 810 | 533 | 1.9% | 232 |
| Professional and business services | 1,186 | 5.0% | 935 | 467 | 2.1% | 390 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 829 | 4.7% | 905 | 567 | 3.3% | 257 |
| Information | 123 | 4.3% | 44 | 30 | 1.1% | 28 |
| Trade, transportation, and utilities | 1,287 | 4.3% | 1,085 | 682 | 2.4% | 334 |
| Financial activities | 403 | 4.2% | 164 | 87 | 1.0% | 59 |
| Manufacturing | 522 | 4.0% | 332 | 197 | 1.6% | 95 |
| Mining and logging | 25 | 4.0% | 24 | 14 | 2.3% | 6 |
| Other services | 238 | 3.8% | 238 | 164 | 2.7% | 66 |
| Government | 731 | 3.0% | 346 | 172 | 0.7% | 74 |
| Construction | 251 | 2.9% | 308 | 152 | 1.8% | 99 |
The table scrolls sideways; the first column stays in place.
What do these figures leave out, and how are they cited?Limits, dates and how to cite
What this number cannot tell you
- JOLTS is a survey of a sample of employers, so each figure carries sampling error; BLS publishes its size with each release.
- The newest month is preliminary and revised the next month, and the annual revision changes the seasonally adjusted figures of earlier years; this page shows them as published now.
- Counts are in thousands, as BLS publishes them. A year's figures here are the plain mean of its months with a value (ours).
Observed . Checked .
How to cite this
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, series JTS000000000000000JOL (job openings, total nonfarm, seasonally adjusted), through August 2026, published 29 September 2026. Compiled by 500metrics, "How many job openings, hires and quits does the JOLTS report count?", https://500metrics.com/job-openings.
Can the data be downloaded?job-openings.csv
Download the full history as CSV: 309 rows, to , 16,811 bytes.
Our text and compilation: CC BY 4.0.
Recession dates from the National Bureau of Economic Research.
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