U.S. Labor Market Monitor
Job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, broken down by all 51 states and 27 industry sectors.
Job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs from the BLS JOLTS program, broken down across all 51 states and 27 industries with trend charts and rankings - latest data: May 2026
States by Job Openings
Industries by Job Openings
U.S. job openings over time
National job openings from the BLS JOLTS survey, 2019 to 2026. Openings surged to a record near 12.3M during the 2022 labor shortage and have cooled since.
Source: BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), national total (all industries), in millions of openings.
About JOLTS Data
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures job openings, hires, and separations (quits, layoffs, discharges) across all nonfarm industries. JOLTS data is a key economic indicator used by the Federal Reserve and policymakers to assess labor market conditions.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey has tracked U.S. labor market dynamics since its launch in December 2000. PlainLabor compiles more than 6,664 monthly JOLTS records across all 51 states and 27 industry sectors, alongside U.S. Census Bureau context, last refreshed in May 2026; see our methodology for the full source list.
About this data
How PlainLabor works, and why you can trust these numbers
What this site is
PlainLabor is a plain-language reference for U.S. labor market data. We turn the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) into a searchable database covering all 51 states and territories and 27 industry sectors, with every figure traceable back to the issuing federal source.
Editorial process
- Source. Pull the monthly JOLTS flat files directly from the BLS public download server, alongside Census and Department of Labor data for state and industry context.
- Verify. Each record keeps its original BLS series and area identifiers, so every figure traces back to the source agency's own release.
- Publish. Compile per-state and per-industry profiles showing job openings, hires, quits, and separations in context, always linking back to the official BLS source so readers can verify our numbers against it.
Editorial independence & corrections
PlainLabor is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement. Found a figure that looks wrong? Use the contact page with the page URL and the value that looks off, we compare it against the published BLS source and correct our pipeline (not just the single page) if the error is on our side. See our editorial & corrections policy and methodology for the full process and source attribution.
Frequently asked
What is JOLTS data?
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) is a monthly BLS survey that measures job openings, hires, and separations across the U.S. economy.
What states and industries are covered?
PlainLabor covers all 51 states and territories plus 27 industry sectors, with data on job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and total separations.
Where does the data come from?
All data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, published monthly with approximately a two-month lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JOLTS data?
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) is a monthly BLS survey that measures job openings, hires, and separations across the U.S. economy.
What states and industries are covered?
PlainLabor covers all 51 states and territories plus 27 industry sectors, with data on job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and total separations.
Where does the data come from?
All data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, published monthly with approximately a two-month lag.
Labor Market Guides
Plain-language explanations of JOLTS data, labor market indicators, and how to read the numbers.
Understanding JOLTS Data
What BLS measures, how it's collected, and what it reveals about labor market health.
Job Openings vs. Hires
Why openings and hires tell different stories, and what a high gap signals.
Labor Market Indicators
The quits rate, layoff trends, and how JOLTS fits alongside the monthly jobs report.
The Great Resignation by the Numbers
JOLTS data on the 2021–2023 quits wave, which industries saw the biggest exodus and what ended it.
Which Industries Are Hiring Fastest
Industry hire rate rankings from JOLTS, growth vs. turnover and what it means for job seekers.
Related Guides
Editorial context for the plainlabor dataset, methodology, comparisons, and deep dives into the underlying records.
The Great Resignation by the Numbers, JOLTS Data on the 2021–2023 Quits Wave
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Interpreting Unemployment Rates
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Job Openings vs. Hires, Why They Tell Different Stories
In-depth guide with context and practical steps.
Research
Original analysis from our editorial team, every statistic derived from our own database. See all research.