Job Openings and Labor Turnover: July 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 was little changed at 7.3 million in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. 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.

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 were little changed at 7.3 million and 4.4 percent, respectively, in July. Job openings increased in durable goods manufacturing (+76,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

The number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively, over the month. Hires decreased in professional and business services (-188,000). (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 July, the number and rate of total separations changed little at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. Total separations changed little in all industries. (See table 3.)

The number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.1 million and 1.9 percent, respectively, over the month. Quits decreased in other services (-46,000). (See table 4.)

The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million and 1.0 percent, respectively, in July. Layoffs and discharges decreased in finance and insurance (-22,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was essentially unchanged at 350,000 in July. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

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

June 2026 Revisions

The number of job openings for June was revised down by 177,000 to 7.2 million, the number of hires was revised down by 16,000 to 5.3 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 14,000 to 5.3 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 19,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 19,000 to 1.8 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.)

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover news release for August 2026 is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).