US JOLTS Job Openings November 2026
November 3 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am
US JOLTS Job Openings November 2026
Next US JOLTS Job Openings: Tuesday, at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London). Covers September 2026 data.
- Consensus
- Not yet published
- Prior
- Not independently verified at time o…
- Actual
- Pending
Full schedule and background: US JOLTS Job Openings.
Updated
The US JOLTS Job Openings report for September 2026 is scheduled for release on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London time). The report is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as part of its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. This particular release covers September 2026 data. Full schedule and background: US JOLTS Job Openings.
What is JOLTS Job Openings?
JOLTS stands for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. It is a monthly survey run by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that measures the number of unfilled job openings, hires, and separations (people leaving jobs, whether by quitting, being laid off, or other reasons) across the US economy. The headline figure that most investors watch is the total number of job openings, usually reported in millions.
The BLS collects this data by surveying tens of thousands of business establishments each month, asking them how many positions they currently have open and are actively trying to fill. Unlike the monthly non-farm payrolls report, which shows how many people were actually hired, JOLTS shows the demand side of the labour market: how many jobs employers say they want to fill. Economists and central bankers use the ratio of job openings to unemployed workers as a gauge of how tight or loose the labour market is.
Markets watch JOLTS closely because the Federal Reserve has repeatedly cited labour market slack, or the lack of it, as a factor in setting interest rates. A high number of openings relative to available workers suggests employers are competing hard for staff, which can push wages up and add to inflation pressure. A falling number of openings, by contrast, can be an early signal that hiring demand is cooling before it shows up in the unemployment rate itself.
When is the September JOLTS report released?
The September 2026 JOLTS Job Openings report is released on November 3, 2026 at 10:00 am ET (3:00 pm London time) by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is published on the BLS website as part of the JOLTS series, alongside detailed tables covering hires, quits, layoffs and discharges, and total separations broken down by industry and region. JOLTS is typically released with roughly a two-month lag relative to the reference month, which is why the September data is not published until early November.
What is the consensus forecast?
As of the time of writing, a consensus forecast for the September 2026 JOLTS Job Openings figure has not yet been published by major polling services such as Reuters or Bloomberg. Forecasts for this release typically firm up in the days immediately before publication, once analysts have incorporated the most recent payrolls, weekly jobless claims, and other labour market indicators into their models. Readers should check back closer to the release date, or consult a live-updated consensus tracker, for the latest median estimate.
Similarly, the prior reading, the August 2026 JOLTS figure, was not independently verifiable through research at the time this preview was written. The most reliable way to check the most recently published number is to consult the official BLS JOLTS release directly, since prior readings are also subject to revision in subsequent reports.
| Measure | Prior (August 2026) | Consensus (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Total job openings | Not yet verified, see official BLS release | Not yet published |
| Quits rate | Not yet verified, see official BLS release | Not yet published |
What the result could mean
| Scenario | Likely market read | What it means in plain English |
|---|---|---|
| Above consensus | Traders may see this as a sign of continued labour demand, potentially reducing bets on near-term rate cuts, according to commentary from economists who track Fed policy expectations | More jobs are being advertised than expected, suggesting employers still want to hire, which can support wages but may also keep the Fed cautious about cutting rates too quickly |
| In line with consensus | A muted reaction is likely, since the data would simply confirm the existing view of the labour market’s trajectory | The jobs market is behaving broadly as economists expected, so borrowing costs, savings rates and share prices are unlikely to shift much on this release alone |
| Below consensus | Markets may price in a higher probability of Fed rate cuts, as weaker demand for labour is often read as an early sign of a cooling economy | Fewer job openings than expected can signal that companies are becoming more cautious about hiring, which historically has preceded a slower pace of wage growth and, sometimes, higher unemployment |
Why does this release matter right now?
The Federal Reserve has repeatedly pointed to the balance between labour supply and demand as a key input into its interest rate decisions. JOLTS data, particularly the ratio of job openings to unemployed workers, has been used by Fed officials in public remarks to argue whether the labour market remains tight or has cooled to a more sustainable pace. Because JOLTS is released with a lag, it is often viewed alongside more timely indicators such as the monthly non-farm payrolls report and weekly initial jobless claims to build a fuller picture of labour market health.
Global investors also watch US labour data closely because shifts in Fed policy expectations tend to ripple through to other major central banks, including the Bank of England and the European Central Bank, both of which weigh US monetary conditions when setting their own policy paths. A softer or stronger than expected US jobs market can move the dollar, which in turn affects the pound and the euro, and can influence borrowing costs well beyond US shores.
What It Means for Your Money
- Mortgages and rates: If the JOLTS report suggests the labour market is cooling faster than expected, it can raise expectations of Fed rate cuts, which sometimes filters through to lower mortgage rates in the US and can influence global bond yields, including UK and eurozone mortgage pricing.
- Savings: Interest rates on savings accounts and fixed deposits often track central bank policy. A weaker jobs market that raises the odds of rate cuts could eventually mean lower returns on cash savings, while a stronger than expected reading could keep savings rates higher for longer.
- Jobs and wages: A falling number of job openings can be an early warning that hiring is slowing, which over time can mean fewer job opportunities and softer wage growth, both in the US and, indirectly, in economies closely tied to US demand.
- Prices: A very tight labour market, with many more openings than available workers, has historically been linked to faster wage growth, which can add to inflation pressure and keep prices of goods and services rising more quickly.
- Investments, pensions and currencies: Shifts in Fed rate cut expectations driven by labour market data can move share prices, bond yields, and the value of the dollar against the pound and euro, which affects the value of pensions and other investments held in different currencies.
Related events
- Previous JOLTS release: US JOLTS Job Openings, August 2026 data
- US non-farm payrolls report, released monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Weekly US initial jobless claims, released every Thursday by the Department of Labor
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the September 2026 JOLTS report released?
The report is released at 10:00 am ET, which is 3:00 pm London time, on November 3, 2026.
How should I read the JOLTS job openings number?
A higher number of job openings generally signals stronger labour demand, while a falling number can suggest employers are becoming more cautious about hiring.
Does JOLTS affect interest rate decisions?
Yes, the Federal Reserve monitors JOLTS data, particularly the balance between job openings and available workers, as one input among many when setting interest rate policy.
Where can I find the official JOLTS release?
The official report is published on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website as part of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey series.
When is the next JOLTS report after this one?
The BLS typically releases JOLTS data roughly a month after this report, covering the following reference month, according to its published release schedule.