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. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6882 Thousand in February from 7240 Thousand in January of 2026. Job Offers in the United States averaged 5484.92 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 April of 2026.

Job Offers in the United States decreased to 6882 Thousand in February from 7240 Thousand in January of 2026. 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
2026-03-13 02:00 PM
JOLTs Job Openings
Jan 6.946M 6.55M 6.70M 6.5M
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 6.882M 7M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 162848.00 162912.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 59.20 59.30 percent Mar 2026
Job Layoffs and Discharges 1721.00 1660.00 Thousand Feb 2026
JOLTs Job Openings 6882.00 7240.00 Thousand Feb 2026
JOLTs Job Quits 2974.00 3137.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Job Quits Rate 1.90 2.00 Percent Feb 2026
Job Openings 6649.00 7377.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Participation Rate 61.90 62.00 percent Mar 2026
Non Farm Payrolls 178.00 -133.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Nonfarm Payrolls Private 186.00 -129.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 7239.00 7571.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 percent Mar 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
6882.00 7240.00 12134.00 2232.00 2000 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
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