The number of job openings in the US fell by 256,000 to 7.079 million in August 2026, the lowest in five months, compared to an upwardly revised 7.335 million in July and forecasts of 7.23 million. Job openings fell in health care and social assistance (-115,000), professional and business services (-119,000), manufacturing (-54,000), construction (-48,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-45,000) and wholesale trade (-36,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-78,000), the Midwest (-6,000) and the West (-243,000), but rose in the South (+71,000). Hires changed little at 5.2 million, while total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) were unchanged, while layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) were essentially unchanged. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 7079 Thousand in August from 7335 Thousand in July of 2026. Job Offers in the United States averaged 5515.17 Thousand from 2000 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 12301.00 Thousand in March of 2022 and a record low of 2232.00 Thousand in July of 2009. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Job Openings - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Job Openings - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 7079 Thousand in August from 7335 Thousand in July of 2026. Job Offers in the United States is expected to be 6850.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Job Openings is projected to trend around 6680.00 Thousand in 2027 and 6600.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-01 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Jul 7.271M 7.182M 7.3M 7.4M
2026-09-29 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Aug 7.079M 7.335M 7.23M 7.24M
2026-11-03 03:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Sep 7.079M 7.06M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 163152.00 162746.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Employment Rate 59.20 59.10 percent Sep 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1641.00 1702.00 Thousand Aug 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7079.00 7335.00 Thousand Aug 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3066.00 3089.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 1.90 Percent Aug 2026
Job Openings 7067.00 7855.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.60 percent Sep 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 29.00 133.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 46.00 89.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Unemployed Persons 7109.00 7031.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.10 percent Sep 2026


United States Job Openings
In the United States, job openings refer to all positions that are open (not filled) on the last business day of the month. Job openings are part of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The survey collects data from around 16400 nonfarm establishments including retailers and manufacturers, as well as federal, state, and local government entities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The JOLTS assesses the unmet demand for labor in the U.S. labor market and gained attention in 2014 as favorite labor market indicator of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
7079.00 7335.00 12301.00 2232.00 2000 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
US Job Openings Miss Forecasts
The number of job openings in the US fell by 256,000 to 7.079 million in August 2026, the lowest in five months, compared to an upwardly revised 7.335 million in July and forecasts of 7.23 million. Job openings fell in health care and social assistance (-115,000), professional and business services (-119,000), manufacturing (-54,000), construction (-48,000), real estate and rental and leasing (-45,000) and wholesale trade (-36,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-78,000), the Midwest (-6,000) and the West (-243,000), but rose in the South (+71,000). Hires changed little at 5.2 million, while total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) were unchanged, while layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) were essentially unchanged.
2026-09-29
US Job Openings Below Forecasts
Job openings in the US increased by 89,000 to 7.271 million in July 2026 from a downwardly revised 7.182 million in June, below market expectations of 7.30 million. The number of job openings increased in durable goods manufacturing (+76,000), health care and social assistance (+54,000), wholesale trade (+50,000), and construction (+28,000). On the other hand, job openings fell in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-67,000) and professional and business services (-65,000). Regionally, openings rose in the Midwest (84,000) and the West (135,000), but fell in the Northeast (-28,000), and the South (-102,000). Over the month, hires and total separations both changed little at 5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.
2026-09-01
US Job Openings Below Forecasts
Job openings in the US decreased by 178,000 to 7.359 million in June 2026, below market expectations of 7.40 million. The number of job openings decreased in healthcare (-147,000), leisure and hospitality (-86,000), wholesale trade (-74,000), and business services (-71,000). Job openings also fell in nondurable goods manufacturing (-55,000), and mining and logging (-9,000), but rose in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (+97,000) and in federal government (+39,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-62,000), the South (-50,000), and the Midwest (-97,000), but rose in the West (32,000). Over the month, hires were unchanged at 5.3 million, while total separations changed little at 5.4 million. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) were unchanged.
2026-08-04