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BLS Report: April job openings increase; hires and total separations decrease
People come; people go.
This is JOLTS, the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. It used to come out a few days after the monthly payroll employment report, but now it seems to be released right at the end of the month or right at the beginning of the month. The shutdown has made the timing offbeat.
The number of quits indicates how confident people are of finding another job if they leave the one they have.
April job openings increase; hires and total separations decrease
Economic News Release USDL-26-0783
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – APRIL 2026
The number of job openings increased to 7.6 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations decreased to 5.1 million and 5.0 million, respectively. Within separations, both quits (3.0 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.
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 increased to 7.6 million (+731,000) and 4.6 percent, respectively, in April. Job openings increased over the year by 520,000. In April, the number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+668,000), but decreased in finance and insurance (-135,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
The number and rate of hires decreased to 5.1 million (-419,000) and 3.2 percent, respectively, in April. Hires were little changed 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 April, the number and rate of total separations decreased to 5.0 million (-399,000) and 3.1 percent, respectively. Total separations decreased in retail trade (-136,000). (See table 3.)
In April, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.0 million and 1.9 percent, respectively. Quits were little changed in all industries. (See table 4.)
The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million and 1.1 percent, respectively, in April. Layoffs and discharges decreased in retail trade (-88,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations was little changed at 310,000 in April. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In April, for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, hires and separations rates showed little change, while the job openings rate increased. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little or no change, while the quits rate increased. (See table 7.)
March 2026 Revisions
The number of job openings for March was revised up by 21,000 to 6.9 million, the number of hires was revised down by 19,000 to 5.5 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 1,000 to 5.4 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 11,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 17,000 to 1.9 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.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for May 2026 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Technical information: (202) 691-5870 • JoltsInfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/jlt
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov
JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – APRIL 2026
The number of job openings increased to 7.6 million in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires and total separations decreased to 5.1 million and 5.0 million, respectively. Within separations, both quits (3.0 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.7 million) were little changed.
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 increased to 7.6 million (+731,000) and 4.6 percent, respectively, in April. Job openings increased over the year by 520,000. In April, the number of job openings increased in professional and business services (+668,000), but decreased in finance and insurance (-135,000). (See table 1.)
Hires
The number and rate of hires decreased to 5.1 million (-419,000) and 3.2 percent, respectively, in April. Hires were little changed 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 April, the number and rate of total separations decreased to 5.0 million (-399,000) and 3.1 percent, respectively. Total separations decreased in retail trade (-136,000). (See table 3.)
In April, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.0 million and 1.9 percent, respectively. Quits were little changed in all industries. (See table 4.)
The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.7 million and 1.1 percent, respectively, in April. Layoffs and discharges decreased in retail trade (-88,000). (See table 5.)
The number of other separations was little changed at 310,000 in April. (See table 6.)
Establishment Size Class
In April, for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, hires and separations rates showed little change, while the job openings rate increased. For establishments with 5,000 or more employees, the job openings, hires, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little or no change, while the quits rate increased. (See table 7.)
March 2026 Revisions
The number of job openings for March was revised up by 21,000 to 6.9 million, the number of hires was revised down by 19,000 to 5.5 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 1,000 to 5.4 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 11,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 17,000 to 1.9 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.)
____________
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for May 2026 are scheduled to be released on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
* * * * *
Facilities for Sensory Impaired
Information from these releases will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339.
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Some previous reports. I don't post them every month anymore.
Tue Mar 17, 2026: BLS Report: January job openings and total separations change little; hires unchanged
Thu Jan 8, 2026: BLS report: November job openings and hires change little; total separations unchanged
Wed Sep 3, 2025: BLS report: July job openings change little; hires and total separations unchanged
Tue Jul 29, 2025: BLS Report: June job openings, hires, and total separations change little
Wed Jul 2, 2025: BLS Report: May job openings, hires, and total separations change little
Tue Jun 3, 2025: BLS Report: April job openings, hires, and total separations change little
{snip the rest}
Related:
Wed Jan 27, 2021: BLS Report: Gross job losses 20.4 million and gross job gains 5.7 million in the 2nd quarter of 2020