Job Openings and Quits by State: 2025 JOLTS Rankings and Trends

The U.S. labor market entered 2026 with a mixed but still historically solid picture: 7.4 million job openings nationally in June 2026, 5.3 million hires, and 3.2 million quits, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). State-level data, released on a slower schedule, now cover December 2025 and the full 2025 annual period, offering a detailed look at how labor demand and worker mobility varied across the country.

Key Numbers

• 7.4 million job openings nationally, June 2026
• 5.3 million hires nationally, June 2026
• 3.2 million quits nationally, June 2026
• 2.0 million openings–hires difference nationally, June 2026
• 3,204,000 quits in December 2025, up 11,000 from November
• 2.0% national quits rate in December 2025
• 6 states had decreased job openings rates in December 2025
• 9 states had increased total separations rates in December 2025

Explanation

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, commonly known as JOLTS, is a monthly survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It measures job openings, hires, and separations—including quits, layoffs, and discharges—for the nonfarm sector. While the national data are released monthly, state-level estimates have historically been published on a monthly basis as well, but the BLS announced in 2026 that the State JOLTS news release would move from a monthly to an annual schedule. The annual 2025 state estimates were released on July 22, 2026, and monthly state estimates for the prior calendar year were revised at the same time.

Job openings represent all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month. Quits are voluntary separations initiated by employees, while layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated by employers. These measures together provide a comprehensive view of labor market churn—how many jobs are available, how many people are being brought on, and how many are leaving.

State-level JOLTS data are particularly valuable because they reveal regional differences that national averages can mask. A state with a high quits rate may indicate strong worker confidence and abundant alternative opportunities, while a state with a high job openings rate may signal strong labor demand or difficulty filling positions. The December 2025 state tables show that job openings rates decreased in 6 states, hires rates decreased in 3 states and increased in 1 state, and total separations rates increased in 9 states and decreased in 2 states.

Definition

In the JOLTS framework, several key terms are used consistently across national and state data:

• Job openings: All positions that are open on the last business day of the month. They are not a count of unemployed people, but rather a measure of unfilled labor demand.
• Hires: All additions to the payroll during the month, including new and rehired employees.
• Quits: Voluntary separations initiated by employees. The quits rate is often interpreted as a measure of workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs.
• Layoffs and discharges: Involuntary separations initiated by employers, excluding retirements and transfers.
• Total separations: The sum of quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations such as retirements.

Rates for each measure are calculated as the number of events divided by total employment, multiplied by 100, yielding a percentage of total jobs.

National Comparison

The national JOLTS release for June 2026 recorded 7.4 million job openings and 5.3 million hires, leaving a 2.0 million gap between openings and hires. This gap is not a count of people looking for work; rather, it reflects the difference between the number of available positions and the number of payroll additions during the month. The national quits level stood at 3.2 million in June 2026, while the December 2025 state table—the most recent state-level reference—showed 3,204,000 quits and a quits rate of 2.0%.

The table below summarizes the most recent national JOLTS indicators that can be confirmed from the available releases.

State Comparison

State-level JOLTS data reveal substantial variation in labor market conditions. According to the PlainLabor summary of the December 2025 state tables, California leads the current state table by job openings, while private education and health services leads the national industry table. This is consistent with California’s large economy and the persistent demand for healthcare and education workers across the country.

The December 2025 state release also reported the following month-over-month changes:

• Job openings rates decreased in 6 states and were little changed in the rest.
• Hires rates decreased in 3 states and increased in 1 state.
• Total separations rates increased in 9 states and decreased in 2 states.

These changes suggest that while labor demand remained relatively stable in most states, worker turnover picked up in a notable number of states at the end of 2025.

Ranking Table

Although the full state-by-state ranking for December 2025 is not reproduced in the public summary, the available data highlight several clear positions. The table below summarizes the most recent national and state-level indicators that can be confirmed from the BLS release.

Year-over-Year Change

Comparing December 2025 with December 2024, the national quits level rose from 3,095,000 to 3,204,000, an increase of 109,000. The national quits rate edged up from 1.9% to 2.0% over the same period. This modest increase suggests that workers remained relatively willing to leave jobs voluntarily, though the rate remained below the elevated levels seen during the peak of the post-pandemic labor market churn.

For job openings, the national count stood at 7.4 million in June 2026, but a direct year-over-year comparison for state-level job openings is complicated by the shift in the state release schedule. The annual 2025 state estimates, released in July 2026, provide a full-year reference point, while the December 2025 monthly state tables remain the most recent monthly state-level data.

Historical Data

The State JOLTS news release has undergone a significant change in its publication schedule. According to the BLS, the release moved from a monthly news release to an annual news release. The annual 2025 state estimates were published on July 22, 2026, and monthly estimates for the prior calendar year were revised at that time. This change means that state-level JOLTS data will now be updated less frequently, with the annual release serving as the primary vehicle for state estimates.

Historically, the national quits rate has fluctuated with economic conditions. The December 2025 rate of 2.0% is slightly above the December 2024 rate of 1.9%, indicating a labor market that remains relatively stable but with some upward pressure on voluntary turnover.

Methodology

The JOLTS program collects data from a sample of nonfarm business establishments each month. Employers report the number of job openings on the last business day of the month, as well as the number of hires and separations during the entire month. The data are then weighted to represent the total nonfarm sector and are seasonally adjusted to remove regular seasonal patterns.

State-level estimates are produced using the same survey but are subject to larger sampling errors because the sample size within each state is smaller than the national sample. Rates are calculated per 100 jobs, allowing for comparison across states of different sizes. The BLS notes that state estimates are revised when new data become available, and the annual release includes revisions to the prior calendar year’s monthly estimates.

Why It Matters

Job openings and quits are leading indicators of labor market health. A high level of job openings signals strong demand for workers, while a high quits rate often indicates worker confidence—people are more willing to leave a job when they believe they can find another. Conversely, a low quits rate may suggest workers are holding onto jobs due to uncertainty.

State-level data are especially important for policymakers, businesses, and job seekers. They reveal which states are experiencing labor shortages, where workers are voluntarily leaving jobs at higher rates, and where hiring is slowing. For example, a state with a rising quits rate and a high job openings rate may be experiencing a tight labor market, while a state with falling openings and rising layoffs may be entering a downturn.

Factors Behind the Trend

Several factors influence state-level job openings and quits. Industry composition plays a major role: states with large healthcare, education, or technology sectors may have different patterns than states dominated by manufacturing or energy. Demographic trends, such as the age of the workforce and migration patterns, also affect labor supply and turnover.

Remote work has further complicated state-level comparisons. Workers may live in one state but work for an employer in another, and job openings may be posted nationally rather than tied to a specific location. Economic conditions, including wage growth, cost of living, and unemployment rates, also shape both employer demand and worker willingness to quit.

Limitations of the Data

State-level JOLTS data have several limitations. The sample sizes within individual states are smaller than the national sample, leading to larger sampling errors and less precise estimates. The BLS cautions that month-to-month changes in state rates should be interpreted with care, especially in smaller states.

Additionally, the shift from a monthly to an annual state release schedule means that state-level data will be less timely than national data. The December 2025 state tables were released in February 2026, while the national data for June 2026 were already available by mid-2026. Finally, JOLTS measures job openings and labor turnover, not the number of unemployed people or the number of job seekers. The openings–hires gap is not a direct measure of labor shortage or surplus.

Source & Data Date

The primary source for this article is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, State Job Openings and Labor Turnover news release. The annual 2025 state estimates were released on July 22, 2026, and the December 2025 state release was published on February 19, 2026. Additional national figures come from the BLS JOLTS program and the PlainLabor summary of the June 2026 national release and December 2025 state tables.