Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 9, 2025   USDL-25-1555
Technical information:	(202) 691-5870  •  JoltsInfo@bls.gov  •  www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact:	        (202) 691-5902  •  PressOffice@bls.gov

                             JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – OCTOBER 2025

The number of job openings was unchanged at 7.7 million in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Over the month, both hires and total separations were little changed at 5.1 
million. Within separations, both quits (2.9 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.9 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 unchanged at 7.7 million and 4.6 percent, respectively, in 
October. The number of job openings decreased in federal government (-25,000). (See table 1.)

Hires

In October, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. 
Hires were little changed in all industries. (See table 2.)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
|                                 Federal Government Shutdown                                         |
|												      |
|Publication of the September 2025 JOLTS news release was canceled due to a lapse in appropriations.  |
|September JOLTS estimates reported in this release include partial data that businesses self-reported| 
|electronically during the shutdown and data collected in November following the shutdown. Data       | 
|presented in this release for October 2025 were collected in November following the shutdown as      |
|originally planned.                                                                                  |
|                                                                                                     |
|Additionally, BLS temporarily suspended use of the monthly alignment methodology for October 2025    |
|preliminary estimates; use of this methodology will resume with the publication of October 2025 final| 
|estimates. See technical note for information on JOLTS alignment methodology.                        |
|                                                                                                     |
|Subsequent JOLTS data releases will be delayed. Revised release dates will be posted at              |
|www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lapse-revised-release-dates.htm as they become available.                       |
|_____________________________________________________________________________________________________|

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 October, the number and rate of total separations were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, 
respectively. The number of total separations decreased in health care and social assistance (-111,000) 
and in federal government (-34,000). (See table 3.)

In October, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 2.9 million and 1.8 percent, respectively. 
The number of quits was down by 276,000 over the year. In October, the number of quits decreased in 
accommodation and food services (-136,000), health care and social assistance (-114,000), and federal 
government (-25,000). Quits in federal government in September saw a series high of 46,000. In 
October, quits increased in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+38,000) and in information (+21,000). 
(See table 4.)

The number and rate of layoffs and discharges in October were little changed at 1.9 million and 1.2 
percent, respectively. Layoffs and discharges increased in accommodation and food services (+130,000) 
and in state and local government, excluding education (+23,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations decreased to 255,000 (-99,000) in October. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In October, establishments with 1 to 9 employees showed little change in job openings, hires, and 
separations rates. The quits rate increased in establishments with 5,000 or more employees, while the job 
openings, hires, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little change. (See table 7.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for November 2025 are scheduled to be 
released on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).