Job openings in the US increased by 9,000 to 7.594 million in May 2026, the highest since May 2024 and well above market expectations of 7.30 million, highlighting labor market resilience despite rising energy costs from the Iran conflict. The number of job openings increased in wholesale trade (+71,000), accommodation and food services (+62,000), real estate and rental and leasing (+40,000), but fell in health care and social assistance (-115,000) and finance and insurance (-69,000). Regionally, openings rose in the South (+88,000), and the Midwest (+115,000), but fell in the Northeast (-88,000) and the West (-105,000). Over the month, hires were unchanged at 5.2 million, while total separations changed little at 5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) changed little, while layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were unchanged. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Offers in the United States increased to 7594 Thousand in May from 7585 Thousand in April of 2026. Job Offers in the United States averaged 5498.86 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 July of 2026.

Job Offers in the United States increased to 7594 Thousand in May from 7585 Thousand in April 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 6580.00 Thousand in 2027 and 6500.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-02 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Apr 7.618M 6.887M 6.88M 6.8M
2026-06-30 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
May 7.594M 7.585M 7.30M 7.4M
2026-08-04 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Jun 7.594M 6.9M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 162264.00 162771.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Employment Rate 59.00 59.20 percent Jun 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1708.00 1667.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 7594.00 7585.00 Thousand May 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3065.00 3043.00 Thousand May 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 1.90 Percent May 2026
Job Openings 7508.00 8160.00 Thousand May 2026
Participation Rate 61.50 61.80 percent Jun 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 57.00 129.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 49.00 97.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Unemployed Persons 7094.00 7307.00 Thousand Jun 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.20 4.30 percent Jun 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
7594.00 7585.00 12301.00 2232.00 2000 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
US Job Openings at 2-Year High
Job openings in the US increased by 9,000 to 7.594 million in May 2026, the highest since May 2024 and well above market expectations of 7.30 million, highlighting labor market resilience despite rising energy costs from the Iran conflict. The number of job openings increased in wholesale trade (+71,000), accommodation and food services (+62,000), real estate and rental and leasing (+40,000), but fell in health care and social assistance (-115,000) and finance and insurance (-69,000). Regionally, openings rose in the South (+88,000), and the Midwest (+115,000), but fell in the Northeast (-88,000) and the West (-105,000). Over the month, hires were unchanged at 5.2 million, while total separations changed little at 5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) changed little, while layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were unchanged.
2026-06-30
US Job Openings Highest since Nov 2024
Job openings in the US increased by 731,000 to 7.618 million in April 2026, the highest since November 2024 and well above market expectations of 6.88 million, highlighting labor market resilience despite rising energy costs from the Iran conflict. The number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+668,000), but decreased in finance and insurance (-135,000). Regionally, openings rose in the Northeast (+133,000), the South (+171,000), and the West (+439,000), but fell in the Midwest (-11,000). Over the month, hires and total separations decreased to 5.1 million and 5.0 million, respectively. Within separations, both quits (3.0 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.
2026-06-02
US Job Openings Fall Less than Expected
Job openings in the US fell by 56,000 to 6.866 million in March 2026, above market expectations of 6.84 million. The number of job openings decreased in professional and business services (-318,000) but increased in finance and insurance (+98,000). Regionally, openings fell in the South (-88,000), the Midwest (-11,000), and the West (-18,000), but rose in the Northeast (61,000). Meanwhile, hires increased to 5.6 million while total separations changed little at 5.4 million. Within separations, both quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.9 million) were little changed.
2026-05-05