← All NewsThe Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on November 3, 2026 that seasonally adjusted job openings were little changed at 7.5 million in September. The job openings rate was also little changed at 4.5%. Openings measure positions available on the last business day of the month.
Hires were little changed at 5.4 million, with a hiring rate of 3.4%. Total separations were little changed at 5.3 million, while the separation rate was unchanged at 3.3%. Unlike job openings, hires and separations measure changes during the entire month.
The number of quits increased to 3.4 million, although the quits rate was little changed at 2.1%. Quits rose by 197,000 in accommodation and food services and fell by 19,000 in arts, entertainment and recreation. Total nonfarm quits were 375,000 higher than a year earlier.
Layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.6 million and a rate of 1.0%. They fell by 70,000 in health care and social assistance. BLS also reported 313,000 other separations, a category that includes retirement, death, disability and transfers to other locations of the same firm.
BLS revised August openings up by 111,000 to 7.2 million and hires up by 79,000 to 5.3 million. August quits were revised down by 22,000 to 3.0 million, while layoffs and discharges were revised up by 127,000 to 1.8 million. These revised figures should not be confused with the earlier estimates.
BLS describes quits as generally voluntary and says the quits rate can measure workers' willingness or ability to leave jobs. The increase in the number of quits does not by itself prove improving confidence, especially when the rate was little changed. This release does not establish a Federal Reserve decision or verify a market-consensus forecast.
Labor Market · November 3, 2026 · 2 min read
September JOLTS: openings at 7.5 million as quits increase
By Econ Data Tools Editorial Team
Published November 3, 2026 • Updated November 3, 2026
BLS reports little change in openings, hires and total separations. Quits rose to 3.4 million, while the quits rate was little changed at 2.1%.
Sources
Related News
Treasury estimates $618 billion in fourth-quarter net marketable borrowing
The November 2 estimate assumes an $850 billion year-end cash balance. Treasury projects $800 billion for January-March 2027.
September construction spending falls 1.9%; private residential outlays drop 5.5%
Census puts the total at a $2,186.1 billion annual rate. Private nonresidential spending rose, while the estimated public-sector decline was not statistically significant.
Commercial paper outstanding slips to $1.499 trillion in October 28 data
Federal Reserve data show a small weekly decline in outstanding balances. Financial and asset-backed balances rose while nonfinancial paper fell.