JTSJOLJob Openings (JOLTS) (JTSJOL) — Current Value & Historical Data
FRED series title: Job Openings: Total Nonfarm
Job Openings (JOLTS) (JTSJOL) Chart & Data Table
Gray bands: NBER recessions
What is Job Openings (JOLTS) (JTSJOL)?
Total Nonfarm Job Openings measures the number of unfilled U.S. job postings on the last business day of each month, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as part of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). It is a leading indicator of labor-market tightness: a high openings-to-unemployed ratio signals employers competing for scarce workers and upward wage pressure; a falling ratio indicates labor-market cooling. Openings spiked to a record 12.2 million in March 2022 as the post-pandemic economy reopened into a constrained labor supply, producing a ratio of roughly two openings per unemployed worker — the highest on record. As the Federal Reserve's tightening cycle moderated demand, openings fell steadily through 2023 and 2024, settling near pre-pandemic norms while unemployment remained low.
Current Job Openings (JOLTS) (JTSJOL) Value
As of August 1, 2026, the current job openings: total nonfarm is 7079.00 Level in Thousands. This is the most recent observation available for this series, updated monthly.
Job Openings (JOLTS) Historical Trend
Job Openings: Total Nonfarm fell 3.49% month-over-month. Over the past year, job openings: total nonfarm fell 0.14% from July 2025. In the series' tracked history, the highest recorded value was 12301.00 (March 2022), and the lowest was 2232.00 (July 2009).
Why Job Openings (JOLTS) matters for government spending
Job openings show how much slack the labor market has before it reaches federal accounts. When openings are plentiful, workers move into jobs quickly, income-tax withholding and payroll-tax receipts grow, and unemployment-insurance outlays stay low. When openings fall faster than layoffs rise, hiring is freezing: jobless spells lengthen, unemployment benefits, Medicaid, and SNAP draw more, and receipts soften. Because openings tend to turn before payrolls do, the series is an early read on the revenue and automatic-stabilizer swings that move the deficit.
Methodology & Source
Source
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Frequency
Monthly
Units
Level in Thousands
Notes
Total Nonfarm Job Openings are a measure of all jobs that are not filled on the last business day of the month. A job is considered open if a specific position exists and there is work available for it, the job can be started within 30 days, and there is active recruiting for the position. Total...
Frequently Asked Questions About Job Openings (JOLTS) (JTSJOL)
What is the current job openings: total nonfarm?
As of August 1, 2026, job openings: total nonfarm stands at 7079.00 Level in Thousands.
Where does job openings: total nonfarm data come from?
Job Openings: Total Nonfarm data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system and related U.S. government agencies. Data quality and historical coverage vary by series.
How often is job openings: total nonfarm updated?
This series is updated according to its publication schedule. Check FRED or the source agency for the most current release calendar.
What is the historical high and low for job openings: total nonfarm?
In the available data, the highest value was 12301.00 Level in Thousands in March 2022, and the lowest was 2232.00 Level in Thousands in July 2009.
How has job openings: total nonfarm changed over the past year?
Over the past year, job openings: total nonfarm decreased 0.14%.
See Job Openings (JOLTS) in context
JTSJOL is tracked on the Labor Market dashboard, alongside related indicators and historical context.
View the Labor Market dashboard →Related government-spending dashboards
How Job Openings (JOLTS) connects to the federal budget across GOVSPENDING.ORG:
Federal Debt
Total public debt, debt held by the public, and intragovernmental holdings.
Receipts vs Outlays
Federal revenue, spending, and the resulting surplus or deficit over time.
Congressional Activity
Recent legislation, appropriations, and fiscal-related bills in Congress.
Interest Expense vs Revenue
How rising debt service costs crowd out federal spending as a share of receipts over time.
Revenue Composition
Federal receipts broken down by source — individual income, corporate, social insurance, excise taxes, and customs duties as shares of total revenue.
Agency Spending (FY 2019 vs FY 2025)
Net outlays by federal agency for FY 2019 and FY 2025, from the Treasury Monthly Treasury Statement. Both nominal and inflation-adjusted comparisons.