2026-02-05 15:00:00
- Prior was 7.146 million
- Hires vs 5145K prior
- Separations vs 5116K prior
- Quits vs 3161K prior
- Layoffs and discharges vs 1687K prior
In September 2025, job openings stood at 7.658 million, rebounding from 7.227 million in August. October saw openings edge up slightly to 7.670 million, driven by gains in trade, transportation, and utilities. However, November marked a sharp reversal as openings fell to 7.146 million, the lowest level since September 2024 and well below expectations of 7.60 million. The decline was concentrated in accommodation and food services, transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Throughout this period, hires remained stagnant at roughly 5.1 million monthly while quits hovered around 2.9-3.2 million, reflecting a low-turnover labor market environment.
JOLTS job openings
For background, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides comprehensive data on labor market dynamics by tracking job openings, hires, and separations across approximately 16,400 nonfarm establishments nationwide. Released typically on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. ET, the report measures unmet labor demand and became a closely watched indicator after former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen highlighted its importance in 2014. A job opening is defined as a position that is vacant on the last business day of the month, has work available, could start within 30 days, and involves active external recruiting. The survey also breaks down separations into quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations, offering insights into worker confidence and employer demand.
