US JOLTS report shows job openings surged to 7.52 million ahead of payrolls
U.S. job openings jumped to 7.52 million in September, outpacing expectations and signaling broad labor market resilience. The latest US JOLTS report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics also showed hiring rising and layoffs falling to the lowest level since March 2025.
⚡ Key numbers:
- 7.52 million – total U.S. job openings in September
- 7.15 million – Dow Jones consensus forecast
- 4.5% – job openings rate as a share of the workforce
- 1.64 million – layoffs and discharges, the lowest since March 2025
Job openings outpace forecasts across key sectors
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, available positions reached 7.52 million in September, significantly above the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 7.15 million. The job openings rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 4.5% of the total labor force.
The data showed that available positions now outnumber unemployed workers, leaving approximately 1.05 openings for every job seeker. In addition, the number of workers voluntarily quitting their positions climbed to 3.36 million, the highest level recorded since March 2025, which analysts view as an indicator of worker confidence.
“It's an encouraging sign that despite all the headwinds right now with high diesel and gas prices and ongoing inflation problems, companies are slowly increasing their hiring”
— Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union (via CNBC)
Layoffs hit multi-month lows as hiring strengthens
Hiring activity expanded during the month, with total hires rising to 5.4 million according to BLS figures. At the same time, layoffs and discharges dropped to 1.64 million, marking the lowest level since March 2025.
The Wall Street consensus expects the national unemployment rate to hold at 4.2%. These conditions illustrate that employer demand remains firm despite broader macroeconomic headwinds.
Treasury yields and dollar react to economic resilience
The unexpected strength in the labor data influenced monetary policy expectations, putting upward momentum behind U.S. Treasury yields and supporting the greenback. The US Dollar Index (DXY) traded near 101.83 points, while the S&P 500 reached 7572 points.
Market attention also centers on commentary from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, whose patient stance on inflation aligns with a measured approach to interest rate adjustments. Investors now await further employment data and congressional election results.
What to watch next
- Wednesday's ADP private payrolls report for October
- Friday's October U.S. nonfarm payrolls and unemployment rate data
- Final results and balance of power from the U.S. midterm elections
Frequently asked questions
What did the September US JOLTS report show?
The report showed job openings surged to 7.52 million, beating the Dow Jones consensus forecast of 7.15 million while layoffs fell to 1.64 million.
How does the JOLTS data affect Federal Reserve rate policy?
Before the release, BBH analysts said steady hiring and slower wage growth would back Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's gradual approach to rate hikes and keep the dollar in check.
When will the next U.S. employment figures be released?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to publish the October nonfarm payrolls report on Friday.
Sources: CNBC, FXStreet, Comparic, Forsal, CoinDesk, Yahoo Finance.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Data as of Nov 3, 2026, 19:52 may vary by source. Trading leveraged CFDs carries a high risk of losing money.
This article contains AI-generated content.
