Last updated: September 20, 2026. This guide is educational and is not individualized investment advice.
Quick take: The JOLTS report for August 2026 is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 29. JOLTS measures job openings, hires, quits, layoffs and other separations. It is a useful labor-market cross-check, but it is not a real-time count of online vacancies or a stand-alone forecast for stocks.
When is the next JOLTS report?
| Report | Reference month | Scheduled release |
|---|---|---|
| Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey | August 2026 | September 29, 2026, 10:00 a.m. ET |
Source: the Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS release schedule. The survey describes the reference month, so the August report arrives with a lag.
The latest official JOLTS baseline
In the most recent release, covering July 2026, the BLS reported that job openings were little changed at 7.3 million. Hires and total separations were each 5.1 million. Quits were 3.1 million, while layoffs and discharges were 1.7 million. These are the current official figures, not an estimate for August.
| July 2026 measure | Level | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Job openings | 7.3 million | 4.4% |
| Hires | 5.1 million | 3.2% |
| Total separations | 5.1 million | 3.2% |
| Quits | 3.1 million | 1.9% |
| Layoffs and discharges | 1.7 million | 1.0% |
The BLS also revised June job openings down by 177,000 to 7.2 million. Revisions matter: comparing only an old headline with a new one can give the wrong impression of the trend.
What each JOLTS line means
- Job openings: positions open on the last business day of the month that meet the BLS definition of an available, specific job.
- Hires: additions to payroll during the month; they show actual hiring activity rather than unfilled demand.
- Quits: voluntary separations. The BLS notes that quits can reflect workers’ willingness or ability to leave for another opportunity.
- Layoffs and discharges: involuntary separations initiated by employers; they are distinct from all other separations.
- Rates: useful for comparing changes as employment levels move, but they still need industry and revision context.
Five checks after the release
- Read openings and hires together. A change in vacancies does not necessarily mean hiring moved in the same direction.
- Check the quits rate and layoff rate. They describe different parts of labor-market churn.
- Look for revisions. The release normally updates earlier numbers as new information is incorporated.
- Check industries cautiously. A move in one sector may not represent the full economy.
- Confirm the reference month. JOLTS is not designed as a same-week labor-market measure.
Why markets watch JOLTS
Investors use JOLTS alongside payrolls, unemployment claims, wages, and inflation data to assess labor demand. The market response depends on what was expected before the release and on broader conditions, including interest-rate expectations. A single openings number does not automatically determine the direction of stocks or Treasury yields.
For the broader week of scheduled releases, see our U.S. economic calendar. For a related manufacturing release, read what to check in durable goods orders. Our guide to the Federal Reserve dot plot explains why incoming labor data are often discussed alongside policy expectations.
FAQ
What does JOLTS stand for?
It stands for Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a monthly BLS release covering openings, hires, and separations.
Does JOLTS count every online job ad?
No. It is a survey-based measure with defined coverage and methodology. An online listing and a BLS job opening are not automatically the same thing.
Why are JOLTS figures revised?
The BLS revises estimates as additional reports and updated seasonal factors are incorporated. Readers should compare the newest revised history, not only previously reported headlines.
Primary sources
Release-day plan
Start with the BLS summary and tables, note the reference month, record the revised prior month, and then compare openings, hires, quits, and layoffs as a set. That approach is more reliable than treating the first headline as a complete labor-market verdict.