Source: BLS JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey)
Note: 2005–2025 annual averages; Jul 2026 is the latest monthly rate.
There are still 7.3 million job openings available in the United States.
So why is it difficult for job applicants to find work?
The statistics provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) are thought-provoking. In July 2026, there were 7.3 million job openings, whereas only 5.1 million hires were recorded that month. So, at first glance, it looks like there are millions of jobs waiting to be filled. However, that's not exactly how it works because job openings are counted at one point in time, whereas hires are counted over a one-month period.
The long-term trend is even more interesting. Hiring rates have slowed down considerably compared to the post-COVID period. During 2021–2022, companies were hiring aggressively in a highly competitive labour market. That environment is largely gone now.
There are still millions of job openings in the U.S. However, companies seem to be taking a more conservative approach to hiring.
Hence, we are facing a new type of labour market. While there are plenty of job openings available, job seekers are still struggling to secure employment.
This is a bigger issue for the labour market than simply saying, "There are 7 million job openings."
A job opening does not necessarily mean that an employer is going to hire someone immediately.
Source:
BLS JOLTS July 2026 release - for the specific July figures.
JOLTS official data page - for the broader JOLTS dataset and historical data.
