What is the JOLTS job openings report and when is it released?
The short answer
JOLTS is the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly count of job openings, hires and separations. It is released at 10:00 a.m. US Eastern (15:00 UTC). The latest data, for August 2026, show 7,079,000 job openings, seasonally adjusted.
What the report measures
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) produces monthly and annual estimates of job openings, hires and separations for the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also produces monthly state estimates for all 50 states and the District of Columbia at the total nonfarm industry level.
A job opening is a position open on the last business day of the reference month that could start within 30 days and that the employer is actively recruiting to fill, according to the BLS JOLTS FAQ. Hires and separations are counted across the whole month. Separations are split into quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations.
When it is released
JOLTS comes out at 10:00 a.m. US Eastern, which is 15:00 UTC, according to the BLS release schedule. The next scheduled releases are Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (September 2026 data) and Tuesday, December 1, 2026 (October 2026 data).
The BLS news release for August 2026 states that the September 2026 release is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
What the latest data show
The August 2026 release, published September 29, 2026, put job openings little changed at 7.1 million, or 7,079,000 seasonally adjusted, according to the BLS. The openings rate was 4.3 percent. Hires changed little at 5.2 million, total separations were unchanged at 5.1 million, quits were unchanged at 3.1 million, and layoffs and discharges were essentially unchanged at 1.6 million.
The BLS revised July 2026 openings up by 64,000 to 7.3 million. The newest month is preliminary and is revised in later releases.
Recent monthly job openings
Job openings, seasonally adjusted, as currently published by the BLS (series JTS000000000000000JOL). The newest month is preliminary.
| City | Local time |
|---|---|
| New York | 10:00 AM |
| London | 3:00 PM |
| Frankfurt | 4:00 PM |
| Dubai | 7:00 PM |
| Singapore | 11:00 PM |
| Sydney | 2:00 AM (Wed Nov 4) |
Questions
What time is the JOLTS report released?
10:00 a.m. US Eastern, which is 15:00 UTC, according to the BLS schedule.
What is the JOLTS report meaning?
It is the BLS monthly survey of job openings, hires and separations in the US labor market.
What did the latest JOLTS report show?
August 2026 job openings were 7,079,000, seasonally adjusted, little changed from July, according to the BLS.
When is the next JOLTS report date?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. US Eastern, covering September 2026, according to the BLS.
Who publishes the JOLTS report?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes it on bls.gov.
Is the JOLTS report delayed by revisions?
The newest month is preliminary; the BLS revised July 2026 openings up by 64,000 in the August 2026 release.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — JOLTS Home
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — JOLTS News Release, August 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Schedule of Releases for JOLTS
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — JOLTS FAQ
Checked against these official sources on October 18, 2026 by the Kairotick team. Rules and schedules change; check the source before you rely on a detail.
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