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. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6866 Thousand in March from 6922 Thousand in February of 2026. Job Offers in the United States averaged 5489.60 Thousand from 2000 until 2026, 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 May of 2026.

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6866 Thousand in March from 6922 Thousand in February 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 6700.00 Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-31 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Feb 6.882M 7.24M 6.92M 6.7M
2026-05-05 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Mar 6.866M 6.922M 6.84M 6.9M
2026-06-02 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Apr 6.866M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 162622.00 162848.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Employment Rate 59.10 59.20 percent Apr 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1867.00 1714.00 Thousand Mar 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6866.00 6922.00 Thousand Mar 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 3171.00 3046.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Job Quits Rate 2.00 1.90 Percent Mar 2026
Job Openings 6685.00 6679.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Participation Rate 61.80 61.90 percent Apr 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 115.00 185.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 123.00 190.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployed Persons 7373.00 7239.00 Thousand Apr 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.30 percent Apr 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
6866.00 6922.00 12134.00 2232.00 2000 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
US Job Openings Below Forecasts
Job openings in the US fell by 358,000 to 6.882 million in February 2026, below market expectations of 6.92 million. The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-211,000) and in mining and logging (-12,000). Regionally, openings fell in the Northeast (-110,000), the South (-160,000), the Midwest (-58,000), and the West (-19,000). Meanwhile, hires decreased to 4.8 million, and total separations changed little at 5.0 million. Within separations, quits (3.0 million) were little changed while layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were unchanged.
2026-03-31
US Job Openings Rise More than Expected
Job openings in the US rose to 6.946 million in January of 2026, rebounding from the over-five-year low of 6.550 million in the previous month and ahead of market expectations of 6.7 million. Still, the reading remained well below averages since the labor market recovered from the Covid pandemic, consolidating the view of slow hiring in the US economy. Openings were high for leisure and hospitality (1.041 million), private education and health services (1.539 million), and trade, transportation, and utilities (1.038 million). Meanwhile, hires edged higher to 5.295 million from 5.272 million. Also, separations were little changed at 5.1 million, while quits held around the 3.1 million area from 3.2 million in the previous month.
2026-03-13