Job openings in the U.S. remained stable at 7.6 million in May 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This follows a significant increase in April, where job openings jumped to 7.6 million from 6.89 million in March, reaching their highest level in nearly two years. The April surge was largely driven by an increase of $668,000 in professional and business services.
Hires also held steady in May at 5.2 million. Total separations saw little change at 5.1 million, with quits remaining stable at 3.1 million and layoffs and discharges unchanged at 1.7 million. This continued a trend of a "low-hire, low-fire" dynamic in the U.S. labor market, where job postings are not necessarily converting into new hires.
The stability in May's figures follows a more dynamic April, where hires decreased to 5.1 million and total separations decreased to 5.0 million. Despite the April increase in job openings, the number of new hires and layoffs had tumbled, and voluntary quits had fallen to their lowest level in nearly six years, suggesting slipping worker confidence in the labor market at that time. However, the consistent numbers in May indicate a stabilization, if not an expansion, of the labor market.
Specific industry changes in May included an increase of 71,000 job openings in wholesale trade and 11,000 hires in the federal government. Conversely, layoffs and discharges saw a decrease of 42,000 in arts, entertainment, and recreation. The BLS also revised April's job openings figure down by 33,000 to 7.6 million, while hires were revised up by 99,000 to 5.2 million.
