US Job Openings Hit 7.5 Million as Employers Post More Roles

U.S. employers added more open positions in September, according to new federal data.

The Labor Department reported that job openings jumped to 7.5 million. This figure marks the highest level since May and represents a gain from the revised 7.19 million recorded in August. The number also sits well above the recent low of 6.9 million seen in March.

Gross hiring, which counts new hires before subtracting those who left, increased in September. Layoffs fell sharply to 1.64 million, the fewest since March 2025. In contrast, the number of people quitting their jobs rose to 3.37 million. This is the highest total in about 18 months, up from 3.04 million in the prior period.

Economists view the rise in quits as a positive indicator. Workers typically leave their current roles when they have secured new employment or feel confident they can find work quickly. However, the overall hiring trend has been sluggish for nearly three years. Low churn in the labor market means employed workers enjoy high job security, but it makes it harder for job seekers to find positions.

For the trend to suggest a real improvement, the increase in openings would need to continue for several months. Voters are heading to the polls Tuesday with a generally negative view of the economy, citing higher prices. The September data suggests hiring could pick up as stronger economic growth encourages employers to expand.

The government will release the October jobs report on Friday. FactSet data indicates employers are expected to have added 65,000 positions last month. This would be an improvement over the 29,000 jobs added in September. The unemployment rate is forecast to remain at 4.2%.

Historically, 65,000 new jobs would signal a struggling economy. However, the large baby boom generation is retiring and immigration has dropped sharply. These factors mean the economy does not need to create as many jobs as it did in the past to keep unemployment low.