Job Openings and Labor Turnover: April 2026

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

The number of job openings increased to 7.6 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations decreased to 5.1 million and 5.0 million, respectively. Within separations, both quits (3.0 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.

This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month.

Job Openings

The number and rate of job openings increased to 7.6 million (+731,000) and 4.6 percent, respectively, in April. Job openings increased over the year by 520,000. In April, the number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+668,000), but decreased in finance and insurance (-135,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

The number and rate of hires decreased to 5.1 million (-419,000) and 3.2 percent, respectively, in April. Hires were little changed in all industries. (See table 2.)

Separations

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.

In April, the number and rate of total separations decreased to 5.0 million (-399,000) and 3.1 percent, respectively. Total separations decreased in retail trade (-136,000). (See table 3.)

In April, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.0 million and 1.9 percent, respectively. Quits were little changed in all industries. (See table 4.)

The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million and 1.1 percent, respectively, in April. Layoffs and discharges decreased in retail trade (-88,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed at 310,000 in April. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In April, for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, hires and separations rates showed little change, while the job openings rate increased. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little or no change, while the quits rate increased. (See table 7.)

March 2026 Revisions

The number of job openings for March was revised up by 21,000 to 6.9 million, the number of hires was revised down by 19,000 to 5.5 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 1,000 to 5.4 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 11,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 17,000 to 1.9 million. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)