Job openings in the US fell by 386,000 to 6.542 million in December 2025, the lowest since September 2020 and well below market expectations of 7.2 million. The number of job openings decreased in professional and business services (-257,000), retail trade (-195,000), and finance and insurance (-120,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-210,000), the South (-58,000), the Midwest (-18,000), and the West (-100,000). Meanwhile, hires and total separations were little changed at 5.3 million each. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) were unchanged while layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) were little changed. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6542 Thousand in December from 6928 Thousand in November of 2025. Job Offers in the United States averaged 5484.21 Thousand from 2000 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 12134.00 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 February of 2026.

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6542 Thousand in December from 6928 Thousand in November of 2025. Job Offers in the United States is expected to be 7000.00 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 6700.00 Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-07 03:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Nov 7.146M 7.449M 7.60M 7.7M
2026-02-05 03:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Dec 6.542M 6.928M 7.2M 7.0M
2026-03-11 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Jan 6.542M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 164520.00 163992.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Employment Rate 59.80 59.70 percent Jan 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1762.00 1701.00 Thousand Dec 2025
JOLTs Job Openings 6542.00 6928.00 Thousand Dec 2025
JOLTs Job Quits 3204.00 3193.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Job Quits Rate 2.00 2.00 Percent Dec 2025
Job Openings 6038.00 6574.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Participation Rate 62.50 62.40 percent Jan 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 130.00 48.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 172.00 64.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployed Persons 7362.00 7503.00 Thousand Jan 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Jan 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
6542.00 6928.00 12134.00 2232.00 2000 - 2025 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
US Job Openings Lowest since 2020
Job openings in the US fell by 386,000 to 6.542 million in December 2025, the lowest since September 2020 and well below market expectations of 7.2 million. The number of job openings decreased in professional and business services (-257,000), retail trade (-195,000), and finance and insurance (-120,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-210,000), the South (-58,000), the Midwest (-18,000), and the West (-100,000). Meanwhile, hires and total separations were little changed at 5.3 million each. Within separations, quits (3.2 million) were unchanged while layoffs and discharges (1.8 million) were little changed.
2026-02-05
US Job Openings Fall to 14-Month Low
Job openings in the US fell by 303,000 to 7.146 million in November 2025, the lowest since September 2024 and well below market expectations of 7.60 million. The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-148,000); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-108,000); and wholesale trade (-63,000). On the other hand, openings increased in construction (+90,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-34,000), the South (-100,000), the Midwest (-91,000), and the West (-78,000). Meanwhile, hires were little changed and total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million each. Within separations, both quits (3.2 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.
2026-01-07
US Job Openings Rise Modestly in October
Job openings in the United States increased by 12,000 to 7.670 million in October 2025, up from 7.658 million in September, according to delayed data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The September figure showed a 431,000 jump from August’s 7.227 million, with both months surpassing expectations of 7.2 million. By sector, openings rose in trade, transportation, and utilities (+239,000), led by retail and wholesale trade, and health care and social assistance (+49,000), but declined in professional and business services (-114,000), the federal government (-25,000), and leisure and hospitality (-22,000). Regionally, gains in the South (+77,000) and West (+12,000) were partially offset by declines in the Midwest (-42,000) and Northeast (-35,000). The September and October data were released together for the first time due to the 43-day government shutdown, with September figures including partial self-reported data during the shutdown and additional information collected afterward.
2025-12-09