The trend over time.
The latest available read: JOLTS Job Openings is at 7.08M as of August 2026. Source: FRED · JTSJOL. CSV and PNG downloads cover the selected date range.
What JOLTS Job Openings measures.
The number of unfilled job openings on the last business day of the month, in millions, from the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). An opening is a specific position the employer is actively trying to fill.
Openings show how much demand for workers exists beyond what payrolls capture. Compare them with the number of unemployed people: when openings fall toward that number, the labor market is cooling without necessarily shedding jobs.
Why it matters.
Fewer openings make it harder to negotiate better pay or escape a bad job, and they're a leading indicator that hiring could slow further. A sustained decline here eventually means slower wage growth and potentially weaker consumer spending.
Where it fits.
JOLTS Job Openings is covered on the Jobs & Labor page.