US job openings hold at 7.3 million in July as hiring dips to 5.1 million

September 1, 2026 at 07:19 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

US job openings were little changed at 7.3 million in July, while hiring edged down to 5.1 million, the Labor Department reported. Layoffs fell slightly to 1.7 million, and the quits rate held at 1.9%. The figures point to a labor market stuck in a low-hire, low-fire pattern.

Key Facts

Job openings totaled 7.3 million in July, up slightly from a revised 7.2 million in June.
Hiring fell to 5.1 million in July from 5.3 million in June, with the hiring rate at 3.2%.
Layoffs decreased to 1.7 million in July, and the layoff rate dipped to 1.1%.
The quits rate, a measure of worker confidence, was 1.9% in July.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release August employment data on Friday.

July Labor Market Data

The Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed 7.3 million open positions in July, a slight increase from a revised 7.2 million in June. Hiring was nearly flat at 5.1 million, down from 5.3 million in June, as the professional and business services sector shed jobs. The hiring rate held at 3.2%, while layoffs fell to 1.7 million and the layoff rate edged down to 1.1%. The quits rate, which signals workers' willingness to leave their jobs, was 1.9% in July.

Labor Market Context

The US labor market has seen anemic hiring but relatively few layoffs this year, prompting many employees to stay in place. July's employment report showed the US unexpectedly shed 23,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate dropped as more workers became discouraged and stopped seeking new roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release August employment data on Friday, offering another look at the market.