Job Openings and Labor Turnover: September 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 7.5 million in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hires and total separations changed little at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.4 million) increased, while layoffs and discharges (1.6 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 7.5 million and 4.5 percent, respectively, in September. Job openings increased in state and local government, excluding education (+104,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

The number and rate of hires changed little at 5.4 million and 3.4 percent, respectively, over the month. Hires increased in accommodation and food services (+158,000). (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 September, the number of total separations was little changed at 5.3 million, while the rate was unchanged at 3.3 percent. Total separations increased in accommodation and food services (+195,000). (See table 3.)

The number of quits increased to 3.4 million, while the rate was little changed at 2.1 percent in September. Quits increased in accommodation and food services (+197,000) but decreased in arts, entertainment, and recreation (-19,000). Over the year, total nonfarm quits increased by 375,000. (See table 4.)

In September, the number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million and 1.0 percent, respectively. Layoffs and discharges decreased in health care and social assistance (-70,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed at 313,000 in September. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In September, 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. Establishments with 5,000 or more employees showed little change in job openings, hires, and separations rates. (See table 7.)

August 2026 Revisions

The number of job openings for August was revised up by 111,000 to 7.2 million, the number of hires was revised up by 79,000 to 5.3 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 105,000 to 5.2 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 22,000 to 3.0 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 127,000 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 October 2026 is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).