US job openings surge to 4-month high as layoffs hit 18-month low

US job openings surpassed market expectations in September, reaching their highest level in four months, while layoffs dropped to an 18-month low — further evidence of the American labor market's continued strength.

The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, released by the US Department of Labor on Tuesday (local time) showed that job openings totaled 7.523 million in September, up 333,000 from the previous month. The figure significantly exceeded the 7.1 million forecast compiled by Dow Jones and marked the highest level since May.

The professional and business services sector posted the largest month-over-month gain in openings, adding 106,000 positions. Government (up 98,000) and manufacturing (up 54,000) also recorded notable increases.

Actual hires also climbed. Hiring reached 5.402 million in September, up 131,000 from the prior month. Layoffs and discharges came in at 1.641 million, the lowest reading since March 2025. The voluntary quit rate edged up 0.2 percentage points to 2.1 percent, its highest level since September 2025.

The data collectively point to a pickup in labor demand, with openings and actual hires both rising while layoffs declined, fueling hopes that the job market may be gaining momentum. Analysts caution, however, that the trend would need to persist for several months before a genuine improvement in hiring conditions can be confirmed.

For nearly three years, the US labor market has been characterized by sluggish hiring alongside historically low layoffs — a dynamic in which both unemployment and new job creation remained subdued. Workers already employed have enjoyed relatively strong job security, but job seekers have struggled to find new positions. September's figures offer grounds for a more optimistic reading, suggesting that new job creation may finally be picking up.