Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, September 29, 2026  USDL-26-1547
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                             JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – AUGUST 2026

The number of job openings was little changed at 7.1 million in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Hires changed little at 5.2 million, while total separations were unchanged at 
5.1 million. Within separations, quits (3.1 million) were unchanged, while layoffs and discharges  
(1.6 million) were essentially unchanged.  

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 7.1 million and 4.3 percent, respectively, in 
August. Job openings changed little in all industries. (See table 1.) 

Hires

The number of hires at 5.2 million changed little over the month and year. The hires rate was 3.3 
percent in August. Hires changed little 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 August, the number and rate of total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, 
respectively. Total separations decreased in state and local government education (-30,000).  
(See table 3.) 

The number and rate of quits were unchanged at 3.1 million and 1.9 percent, respectively, over the 
month. Quits decreased in wholesale trade (-34,000) and in state and local government education  
(-21,000). Quits increased in nondurable goods manufacturing (+28,000) and in private educational 
services (+13,000). (See table 4.)

The number and rate of layoffs and discharges changed little at 1.6 million and 1.0 percent, 
respectively, in August. Layoffs and discharges were little changed in all industries. (See table 5.)

The number of other separations was little changed at 363,000 in August. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

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

July 2026 Revisions

The number of job openings for July was revised up by 64,000 to 7.3 million, the number of hires was 
revised up by 92,000 to 5.1 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 56,000 to 5.1 
million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 33,000 to 3.1 million, and the 
number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 36,000 to 1.7 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.)
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover news release for September 2026 is scheduled to be 
published on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).