US Job Market Shift: Openings Hit 7.52 Million as Quits Surge
US job openings climbed to 7.52 million in September as voluntary quits rose to 3.4 million, signaling a shifting labor market.
The United States labor market is showing signs of renewed movement, with US job openings climbing to 7.52 million in September 2026. According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this marks a notable increase from the 7.19 million vacancies recorded in August.
While the BLS described the overall change as "little changed," the data reveals a jump of 333,000 openings over the month. The job openings rate rose to 4.5 per cent in September, up from 4.3 per cent in the previous month.
The "Quit" Factor: Workers on the Move
One of the most striking revelations in the report is the surge in voluntary resignations. The number of workers choosing to leave their jobs climbed to 3.4 million in September, an increase of 321,000 from August's 3.044 million. The quits rate subsequently rose from 1.9 per cent to 2.1 per cent.
The BLS notes that the quits rate is a critical barometer for the economy, as it reflects the willingness and ability of employees to seek better opportunities elsewhere. This trend was particularly evident in the accommodation and food services sector, where quits jumped by 197,000. Conversely, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector saw a decline of 19,000 quits.
Hiring Trends and Sectoral Shifts
Hiring activity also saw an uptick, with 5.402 million hires recorded in September, compared to 5.271 million in August. This represents an increase of 131,000 new hires, pushing the hiring rate to 3.4 per cent.
- Accommodation and Food Services: This sector led the charge in recruitment, adding 158,000 hires in September.
- Government Roles: Vacancies in state and local government (excluding education) saw an increase of 104,000.
- Healthcare: Layoffs and discharges declined by 70,000 in the health care and social assistance sector.
Stability Amidst Change
Despite the rise in quits, total separations—which encompass quits, layoffs, discharges, and other exits—remained relatively stable at 5.319 million, with the separation rate holding steady at 3.3 per cent. Layoffs and discharges actually dipped to 1.641 million from August's 1.768 million, with the rate falling to 1.0 per cent.
Other separations, including retirements and disabilities, remained largely unchanged at 313,000. Interestingly, the data showed that businesses with one to nine employees saw a decline in their layoffs and discharges rate, while larger establishments with 5,000 or more workers saw little to no change across hiring or separation metrics.
Revised Figures and Economic Context
The BLS also provided upward revisions for August's data to provide a more accurate picture of the preceding month:
- Job Openings: Revised up by 111,000 to 7.2 million.
- Hires: Revised up by 79,000 to 5.3 million.
- Total Separations: Revised up by 105,000 to 5.2 million.
- Layoffs/Discharges: Revised up by 127,000 to 1.8 million.
- Quits: Revised down by 22,000 to 3.0 million.
These labor market insights arrive shortly after the US Federal Reserve's October 28 monetary policy meeting, where the central bank decided to pause interest rate hikes, maintaining the current federal funds rate target.