US job openings, 2000 to 2026
US job openings stood at 7,594 in 2026, up 0.1% on the previous period.
The latest reading is 7.59 million openings, for May 2026, against 7.59 million openings in April 2026. The series is monthly (FRED series JTSJOL) and runs from December 2000.
How it is measured
The number of unfilled job openings on the last business day of the month, from the JOLTS survey of establishments. An opening counts if the position exists, could start within 30 days, and the employer is actively recruiting. The axis is in thousands. The data reaches us through FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's data service, and originates with the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
What the curve shows
Openings stood at 7.59 million in May 2026, within a window spanning 2.23 million (July 2009) to 12.3 million (March 2022). Read against the number of unemployed, this line measures how tight the labor market is: more openings than seekers is bargaining power for workers.
Why do openings matter more than hires?
Can openings be inflated?
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