The next JOLTS report, covering data for February 2025, is scheduled for release on April 1, 2025, at 14:00 UTC.
What is the JOLTS report?
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) is a monthly report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
It provides detailed data on job openings (the number of open positions employers are actively recruiting for), hires (the number of people hired during the month), and separations (broken down into layoffs and discharges, quits, and other separations, such as deaths and retirements).
When does the JOLTS report come out?
The JOLTS report is released monthly, typically about five weeks after the reference month ends. It is usually published on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 ET (15:00 UTC or 14:00 UTC, depending on U.S. daylight saving time changes).
It's important to note that the JOLTS report has a data lag, reporting data with about a 5-week delay. This lag exists because compiling detailed information from thousands of employers across different industries takes time, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) prioritises accuracy over speed for this report.
For example:
- January data → released in early March
- February data → released in early April
- March data → released in early May
When is the JOLTS report released?
The next JOLTS report is due for release on April 1, 2025.
See below for the Bureau of Labor Statistics' scheduled JOLTS releases in 2025:
- Tuesday, 7 January 2025: November 2024 data
- Tuesday, 4 February 2025: December 2024 data
- Tuesday, 11 March 2025: January 2025 data
- Tuesday, 1 April 2025: February 2025 data
- Tuesday, 6 May 2025: March 2025 data
- Tuesday, 3 June 2025: April 2025 data
- Tuesday, 1 July 2025: May 2025 data
- Tuesday, 5 August 2025: June 2025 data
- Tuesday, 2 September 2025: July 2025 data
- Tuesday, 7 October 2025: August 2025 data
- Tuesday, 4 November 2025: September 2025 data
- Tuesday, 2 December 2025: October 2025 data
What does the JOLTS report mean?
The JOLTS report gives a detailed picture of the U.S. labor market’s health by showing how many jobs are available, how many people are being hired, and how many are leaving jobs.
The JOLTS report helps economists, businesses, and policymakers understand:
- Whether the labor market is tight or slack (more job openings vs. available workers).
- How confident workers feel.
- Potential pressure on wages and inflation (important for the Federal Reserve).
In short, it’s a key tool for gauging how strong, flexible, or strained the U.S. job market is at any given time.
What is the JOLTS indicator?
The JOLTS indicator refers to the data provided by the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It includes four key metrics:
- Job openings – The number of unfilled jobs employers are actively recruiting for.
- Hires – The total number of people hired during the month.
- Quits – The number of employees who voluntarily left their jobs (often seen as a sign of worker confidence).
- Layoffs & discharges – Involuntary job separations initiated by employers.
The JOLTS indicator gives a detailed view of the demand for labor, worker confidence, and overall labor market dynamics.
Is JOLTS a leading indicator?
No, JOLTS is not considered a leading indicator. It is usually considered as a lagging or coincident indicator.
This is because the data is released with a 5-week delay, so it reflects what has already happened in the labor market. It shows past trends, not predictions about the future. However, some parts of the report, like the quits rate, can offer offer mild forward-looking insights (a high quits rate may suggest worker confidence and potential future wage growth, which can support consumer spending), but JOLTS isn’t typically used to predict turning points.
Overall, JOLTS is better for confirming labor market conditions rather than forecasting them.
What do JOLTS represent?
JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) represents the flow of jobs and workers in the U.S. economy.
It shows how many job openings there are, how many people are hired, how many quit, and how many are laid off or discharged.
Together, these figures represent the overall health and flexibility of the labor market. The report is important because it reveals the balance between labor demand and supply. For example, a high number of job openings combined with a high quits rate suggests a strong labor market, where workers feel confident about finding new jobs. Economists and policymakers, including the Federal Reserve, closely watch JOLTS data. Trends in job openings, quits, and layoffs can influence decisions on interest rates and economic policy, as they reflect overall economic health.
How do you interpret the JOLTS?
Here’s a simple way to interpret the JOLTS report:
Job openings
- High job openings = Strong demand for workers.
- If openings are rising but hires aren’t, it may signal a tight labor market (employers can’t find enough qualified workers).
- Falling openings suggest weakening labor demand.
Hires
- Steady or rising hires = Employers are filling roles successfully.
- If hires drop, it may point to slower business growth or uncertainty.
Quits
- High quits rate = Worker confidence. People feel secure leaving jobs, likely because they expect better opportunities.
- Falling quits rate could signal workers becoming risk-averse or fewer available job options.
Layoffs & discharges
- Rising layoffs = Labor market stress. Companies may be cutting costs.
- Low layoffs = Economic stability, companies holding onto workers.
Overall interpretation
- Tight labor market = High job openings + high quits + low layoffs.
- Weakening market = Falling openings + low hires + rising layoffs.
- Policymakers (like the Fed) often use JOLTS to assess wage pressure, inflation risks, and economic momentum.
How do JOLTS affect the stock market?
The JOLTS report can influence the stock market because it reveals the strength of the labor market and hints at future economic conditions.
When job openings and quits are high, it suggests a tight labor market. This can lead to rising wages and potential inflation. Investors may worry that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates to control inflation, which often puts downward pressure on stocks, especially growth stocks.
If the report shows an increase in layoffs, it can signal that businesses are cutting back. This raises fears of an economic slowdown, which may cause stock prices to drop as investors anticipate weaker corporate profits.
Overall, traders watch JOLTS closely because it can affect the Fed’s policy outlook. A strong report might suggest the Fed will keep rates higher, while a weak report may signal economic cooling.
Read more about the Fed's interest rate decisions here: When is the next Fed interest rate decision?
What does JOLTS stand for in stocks?
While JOLTS itself is not a stock market term, investors and traders closely watch the report because it offers insights into the health of the labor market, wage pressures, and economic strength, all of which can influence stock prices.
For example, a tight labor market reflected in JOLTS may lead to inflation concerns, causing the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, which can affect stock valuations.
What is the US JOLTS quit rate?
As of January 2025 (March 2025's release), the US JOLTS quits rate stood at 2.1%.
This rate reflects that approximately 3.3 million workers chose to resign during that month, indicating a slight increase from the previous month. The quits rate is often viewed as a gauge of worker confidence in the labor market; a higher rate suggests that employees feel optimistic about finding new employment opportunities.
What is the job opening forecast for the US?
As of January 2025 (March 2025's release), the U.S. labor market continues to exhibit a high number of job openings, reflecting sustained employer demand. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported approximately 7.7 million job openings in January 2025, indicating a robust demand for labor.
Certain sectors are poised for notable growth. For instance, the healthcare industry is expected to see a surge in demand for nurse practitioners, with a projected growth rate of 46% from 2023 to 2033. Similarly, roles such as data scientists and information security analysts are projected to grow by 36% and 33%, respectively, reflecting the increasing importance of data and cybersecurity.
What is the response rate for JOLTS?
The response rate for the JOLTS survey is typically around 30% to 35%.
The JOLTS survey collects data from approximately 21,000 businesses across all industries and regions in the U.S., however recent data indicates that the response rate has declined over time. In the summer of 2019, the response rate averaged 58%, but by the summer of 2023, it had decreased to approximately 32%.
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