• Prior 6.882M
• JOLTs job openings 6.866M vs 6.835M estimate
• Quits 2.0%vs 1.9% prior . 3.17 billion versus 2.974 million last month
• Vacancy rate 4.1% versus 4.2% last month

Details from the BLS:

• Openings decreased in professional and business services (-318K) and increased in finance and insurance (+98K)

Hires:

• Hires: 5.6 million (+655K) – rebounded after prior decline; rate rose to 3.5%
• Gains led by transportation/warehousing/utilities (+108K), professional and business services (+165K), and leisure/hospitality (+124K)
• Federal government hiring declined (-7K)

Separations:

• Total separations: 5.4 million – little changed; rate steady at 3.4%
• No major changes across industries

Quits

• Quits: 3.2 million – little changed; rate at 2.0%
• Down 285K year-over-year
• Small increase in real estate (+19K)
• Layoffs and discharges: 1.9 million – little changed; rate at 1.2%
• Up 272K year-over-year
• Other separations: 339K (+76K) – increased on the month

Overall: Labor market steady – hiring improved, but openings and separations largely unchanged, signaling stable but not accelerating conditions

What is the JOLT Job Openings Report?

For background, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides comprehensive data on labor market dynamics by tracking job openings, hires, and separations across approximately 16,400 nonfarm establishments nationwide. Released typically on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. ET, the report measures unmet labor demand and became a closely watched indicator after former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen highlighted its importance in 2014. A job opening is defined as a position that is vacant on the last business day of the month, has work available, could start within 30 days, and involves active external recruiting. The survey also breaks down separations into quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations, offering insights into worker confidence and employer demand.