Job openings across the U.S. fell from 7.4 million in June to 7.2 million in July, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report. The JOLTS report provides insights into the number of job openings, hires, quits, and layoffs, offering a detailed snapshot of labor demand in the U.S.

U.S. Employers Report 138,000 Fewer Job Openings in June

While the overall number of job openings fell in July, notable growth was reported in key industries including:

• Financial activities (+47,000)
• Accommodation and food services (+14,000)
• Manufacturing (+41,000)
• Construction (+64,000)

Industries that reported a decline in job openings, including:

• Private education and health services (-181,000)
• Trade, transportation, and utilities (-19,000)
• State and local government (-56,000)

Hiring and Separations Stay Flat in July

The number of hires grew slightly from 5.27 million in June to 5.31 million in July, according to the latest JOLTS report. Hiring activity is down by just under 150,000 jobs over the same time last year.

The industries that experienced the most notable changes in hiring were:

• Financial activities (+8,000)
• Manufacturing (+21,000)
• Accommodation and food services (-30,000)
• Transportation, warehousing and utilities (-52,000)

Total separations, which include quits, layoffs, discharges, and other separations, decreased by 52,000 in July.

Quits, often regarded as a measure to watch in order to better understand employee confidence, stayed flat in July—decreasing by just 1,000 across the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, layoffs stayed relatively flat as well—increasing by just 12,000 across the economy. 3.4 million since the end of 2023. Total layoffs and discharges, meanwhile, fell by just 7,000—remaining at 1.6 million.

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Sources: BLS