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.

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.

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.