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Job openings unchanged at 7.6 million in May 2026
July 06, 2026
The number of job openings was unchanged at 7.6 million in May 2026. Hires were unchanged at 5.2 million. Among industries, job openings increased in wholesale trade (+71,000) and hires increased in federal government (+11,000).
| Month | Total nonfarm job openings | Total nonfarm hires | Total nonfarm separations |
|---|---|---|---|
May 2021 | 9,954,000 | 5,981,000 | 5,515,000 |
Jun 2021 | 10,319,000 | 6,535,000 | 5,741,000 |
Jul 2021 | 10,983,000 | 6,720,000 | 5,818,000 |
Aug 2021 | 10,872,000 | 6,394,000 | 5,875,000 |
Sep 2021 | 10,834,000 | 6,632,000 | 6,118,000 |
Oct 2021 | 11,238,000 | 6,678,000 | 5,856,000 |
Nov 2021 | 11,199,000 | 6,911,000 | 6,192,000 |
Dec 2021 | 11,520,000 | 6,686,000 | 6,103,000 |
Jan 2022 | 11,210,000 | 6,431,000 | 6,247,000 |
Feb 2022 | 11,698,000 | 6,801,000 | 5,986,000 |
Mar 2022 | 12,301,000 | 6,619,000 | 6,181,000 |
Apr 2022 | 11,861,000 | 6,528,000 | 6,138,000 |
May 2022 | 11,535,000 | 6,440,000 | 6,079,000 |
Jun 2022 | 11,283,000 | 6,487,000 | 6,039,000 |
Jul 2022 | 11,576,000 | 6,478,000 | 5,839,000 |
Aug 2022 | 10,092,000 | 6,448,000 | 6,238,000 |
Sep 2022 | 10,800,000 | 6,201,000 | 5,886,000 |
Oct 2022 | 10,447,000 | 6,151,000 | 5,784,000 |
Nov 2022 | 10,632,000 | 6,180,000 | 5,881,000 |
Dec 2022 | 10,902,000 | 6,163,000 | 6,004,000 |
Jan 2023 | 10,318,000 | 6,370,000 | 5,885,000 |
Feb 2023 | 9,857,000 | 5,989,000 | 5,767,000 |
Mar 2023 | 9,655,000 | 5,925,000 | 5,984,000 |
Apr 2023 | 9,966,000 | 5,876,000 | 5,570,000 |
May 2023 | 9,368,000 | 6,119,000 | 5,840,000 |
Jun 2023 | 9,180,000 | 5,928,000 | 5,680,000 |
Jul 2023 | 8,657,000 | 5,672,000 | 5,564,000 |
Aug 2023 | 9,254,000 | 5,846,000 | 5,651,000 |
Sep 2023 | 9,259,000 | 5,773,000 | 5,507,000 |
Oct 2023 | 8,580,000 | 5,765,000 | 5,530,000 |
Nov 2023 | 8,602,000 | 5,535,000 | 5,494,000 |
Dec 2023 | 8,520,000 | 5,583,000 | 5,430,000 |
Jan 2024 | 8,378,000 | 5,591,000 | 5,367,000 |
Feb 2024 | 8,440,000 | 5,618,000 | 5,513,000 |
Mar 2024 | 8,206,000 | 5,452,000 | 5,265,000 |
Apr 2024 | 7,529,000 | 5,469,000 | 5,370,000 |
May 2024 | 7,782,000 | 5,492,000 | 5,424,000 |
Jun 2024 | 7,416,000 | 5,137,000 | 5,082,000 |
Jul 2024 | 7,426,000 | 5,430,000 | 5,390,000 |
Aug 2024 | 7,520,000 | 5,204,000 | 5,226,000 |
Sep 2024 | 6,943,000 | 5,427,000 | 5,160,000 |
Oct 2024 | 7,379,000 | 5,228,000 | 5,137,000 |
Nov 2024 | 7,566,000 | 5,155,000 | 5,156,000 |
Dec 2024 | 7,295,000 | 5,292,000 | 5,049,000 |
Jan 2025 | 7,431,000 | 5,238,000 | 5,241,000 |
Feb 2025 | 7,242,000 | 5,236,000 | 5,285,000 |
Mar 2025 | 6,952,000 | 5,333,000 | 5,288,000 |
Apr 2025 | 7,098,000 | 5,391,000 | 5,270,000 |
May 2025 | 7,310,000 | 5,328,000 | 5,288,000 |
Jun 2025 | 7,204,000 | 5,327,000 | 5,432,000 |
Jul 2025 | 7,089,000 | 5,225,000 | 5,170,000 |
Aug 2025 | 6,919,000 | 5,145,000 | 5,207,000 |
Sep 2025 | 7,169,000 | 5,244,000 | 5,161,000 |
Oct 2025 | 7,170,000 | 5,180,000 | 5,125,000 |
Nov 2025 | 6,846,000 | 5,019,000 | 5,035,000 |
Dec 2025 | 6,550,000 | 5,272,000 | 5,203,000 |
Jan 2026 | 7,240,000 | 5,347,000 | 5,144,000 |
Feb 2026 | 6,922,000 | 4,899,000 | 5,022,000 |
Mar 2026 | 6,887,000 | 5,535,000 | 5,377,000 |
Apr 2026 | 7,585,000 | 5,215,000 | 5,038,000 |
May 2026 | 7,594,000 | 5,170,000 | 5,101,000 |
Total separations changed little at 5.1 million, as quits (3.1 million) changed little and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) and other separations (328,000) were unchanged. Total separations changed little in all industries.
The rates of job openings (4,6 percent), hires (3.3 percent), and total separations (3.2 percent) were unchanged over the month.
These data are from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary. To learn more, see "Job Openings and Labor Turnover — May 2026." Also see charts of job openings, hires, and separations data. 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. Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer. Other separations include retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same employer.
SUGGESTED CITATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Job openings unchanged at 7.6 million in May 2026 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/job-openings-unchanged-at-7-6-million-in-may-2026.htm (visited July 07, 2026).
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