Employment and job openings · United States
United States JOLTs Job Openings
The United States JOLTs Job Openings measures the change in the number of people employed in the United States, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
- Importance
- Medium
- Released
- Monthly
- Next release
- Currency
- USD · US dollar
- Central bank
- The Federal Reserve
Latest figures
The latest release for AUG, published on 29 September 2026, came in at 7.079M, below the consensus of 7.23M, down from 7.335M the time before (revised).
A weaker figure than expected points to slowing activity: the US dollar tends to soften and markets price in lower rates.
Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 6.542M to 7.670M, averaging 7.219M; it has been falling for three releases in a row.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 2026 | AUG | 7.079M | 7.23M | 7.335M ® |
| 1 Sep 2026 | JUL | 7.271M | 7.3M | 7.182M ® |
| 4 Aug 2026 | JUN | 7.359M | 7.4M | 7.537M ® |
| 30 Jun 2026 | MAY | 7.594M | 7.30M | 7.585M ® |
| 2 Jun 2026 | APR | 7.618M | 6.88M | 6.887M ® |
| 5 May 2026 | MAR | 6.866M | 6.84M | 6.922M ® |
| 31 Mar 2026 | FEB | 6.882M | 6.92M | 7.24M ® |
| 13 Mar 2026 | JAN | 6.946M | 6.70M | 6.55M ® |
| 5 Feb 2026 | DEC | 6.542M | 7.2M | 6.928M ® |
| 7 Jan 2026 | NOV | 7.146M | 7.60M | 7.449M ® |
| 9 Dec 2025 | OCT | 7.670M | – | 7.658M |
| 9 Dec 2025 | SEP | 7.658M | 7.2M | 7.227M |
Why it matters
Jobs drive income and spending, and a tight labour market pushes wages and inflation up. the Federal Reserve watches employment closely, so strong figures support the US dollar and weak ones raise the odds of rate cuts. Full-time jobs carry more weight than part-time.
How it is calculated
Most countries count employment from a household labour force survey; job openings come from employer surveys or job-board data; announced job cuts are tallied from company statements.
What changes mean
- Compare with the consensus and with population growth.
- Openings falling while employment holds up is the "soft landing" pattern central banks hope for.
- Quits rising means workers are confident they can find better-paid jobs: wage pressure ahead.
Higher than expected: A stronger figure than expected points to a healthier economy: it usually supports the US dollar and local stocks, and can push bond yields up.
Lower than expected: A weaker figure than expected points to slowing activity: the US dollar tends to soften and markets price in lower rates.
A short history
Labour force surveys spread after the Second World War, following the US Current Population Survey (1940s); the US job openings survey (JOLTS) began in 2000.
Questions
What is the United States JOLTs Job Openings?
The United States JOLTs Job Openings measures the change in the number of people employed in the United States, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
What was the latest United States JOLTs Job Openings?
7.079M for AUG, published on 29 September 2026 (consensus 7.23M, previous 7.335M).
When is the next United States JOLTs Job Openings?
On Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 15:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.