JOLTS: U.S. Job Openings Fall to 7.1M in August, Hiring Stays Sluggish
NewsData.io · United States · Sep 29, 2026
U.S. job openings declined to 7.08 million in August from a revised 7.34 million in July, the lowest reading since March, according to the Labor Department's JOLTS report. Layoffs also fell, but gross hiring ticked up only modestly and remains at historically low levels. Employers have added an average of 80,000 jobs per month in 2026, a rebound from 2025's near-stagnant pace but well below 2023–2024 averages. For staffing firms, the data signals a tight-but-cautious market where candidate flow is constrained and client demand for contract placements may remain subdued.
Related stories
Job switchers are once again outpacing job stayers in wage growth, reversing a brief period in which both groups saw similar pay increases…
Bank of America Institute economists say the U.S…
U.S…
Seasonal retail job openings are projected to total roughly 450,000 this year — the lowest since the Financial Crisis — down from 461,000 in 2023…