The number of job openings was unchanged at 7.7 million in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the month, both hires and total separations were little changed at 5.1 million. Within separations, both quits (2.9 million) and layoffs and discharges (1.9 million) were also little changed. This release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, broken down by industry and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month, while hires and separations include all changes to payroll during the entire month.
Job Openings
The number and rate of job openings were unchanged at 7.7 million and 4.6 percent, respectively, in October. The number of job openings decreased in the federal government by 25,000.Hires
In October, the number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. Hires were little changed across all industries.Federal Government Shutdown
Publication of the September 2025 JOLTS news release was canceled due to a lapse in appropriations. September JOLTS estimates reported in this release include partial data that businesses self-reported electronically during the shutdown, along with data collected in November following the shutdown. Data presented for October 2025 were collected in November as originally planned.Additionally, the BLS temporarily suspended use of the monthly alignment methodology for October 2025 preliminary estimates. Use of this methodology will resume with the publication of October 2025 final estimates. Subsequent JOLTS data releases will be delayed, with revised release dates posted at www.bls.gov/bls/2025-lapse-revised-release-dates.htm as they become available.
Separations
Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally voluntary separations initiated by the employee, making the quits rate a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by the employer, while other separations include retirement, death, disability, and transfers to other locations of the same firm.In October, the number and rate of total separations were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2 percent, respectively. Total separations decreased in health care and social assistance (-111,000) and in federal government (-34,000).
Quits in October were little changed at 2.9 million and 1.8 percent, down 276,000 over the year. Decreases occurred in accommodation and food services (-136,000), health care and social assistance (-114,000), and federal government (-25,000). Quits in federal government had reached a series high of 46,000 in September. Increases occurred in arts, entertainment, and recreation (+38,000) and in information (+21,000).
The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.9 million and 1.2 percent, respectively, though layoffs and discharges rose in accommodation and food services (+130,000) and in state and local government, excluding education (+23,000).
Other separations decreased to 255,000 (-99,000) in October.
Establishment Size Class
In October, establishments with 1 to 9 employees showed little change in job openings, hires, and separations rates. The quits rate increased in establishments with 5,000 or more employees, while job openings, hires, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little change.
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