Glossary term
JOLTS Report
The JOLTS report is the BLS release that tracks job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and other labor-turnover measures in the U.S. economy.
Byline
Written by: Editorial Team
Updated
What Is the JOLTS Report?
The JOLTS report is the BLS release that tracks job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and other labor-turnover measures in the U.S. economy. JOLTS stands for the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. The report matters because it gives a deeper view of labor demand and worker behavior than the headline unemployment rate alone.
In market commentary, the JOLTS report is often used to judge whether the labor market is still tight, cooling gradually, or weakening more sharply. That makes it an important companion to nonfarm payrolls, job openings, and wage data.
Key Takeaways
- The JOLTS report covers job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and separations.
- It provides a broader labor-market picture than job openings alone.
- Investors watch JOLTS because it helps reveal labor demand, worker confidence, and hiring momentum.
- The report is especially useful for understanding whether the labor market is tightening or cooling.
- JOLTS data can influence expectations for growth, inflation, and interest rates.
What the JOLTS Report Measures
The report is built around several core series. Job openings show unfilled positions employers are actively trying to fill. Hires show how many workers are actually being brought on. Quits can signal worker confidence, because people are more willing to leave a job when they believe they can find another one. Layoffs and total separations help show whether labor conditions are becoming more fragile.
That combination matters because no single labor indicator tells the whole story. The JOLTS report helps show both employer demand and worker behavior.
Why the JOLTS Report Matters Financially
The JOLTS report matters because labor conditions affect household income, inflation pressure, and monetary policy expectations. If job openings remain high and quits stay elevated, the labor market may still be tight enough to keep wage pressure firm. If openings fall, hires soften, and layoffs rise, the economy may be losing labor-market momentum.
That is why markets often read JOLTS as part of the broader question of whether the economy is heading toward a soft landing, a hard landing, or something in between.
JOLTS Report Versus Job Openings
Term | Main focus |
|---|---|
JOLTS report | The full BLS labor-turnover release covering openings, hires, quits, and separations |
Job openings | One metric inside the report that tracks unfilled positions employers are trying to fill |
This distinction matters because the report is broader than the openings number that often gets quoted in headlines. A labor market may show one signal in openings and a different signal in quits or layoffs.
Why Quits and Layoffs Get Attention
Quits matter because they can signal worker confidence. When more workers are quitting voluntarily, it can suggest people feel comfortable finding better opportunities. Layoffs matter because they can point to employer stress or weakening demand. Watching all of these together makes the JOLTS report more useful than focusing on job openings alone.
The Bottom Line
The JOLTS report is the BLS release that tracks job openings, hires, quits, layoffs, and other labor-turnover measures. It matters because it gives a richer picture of labor demand and worker confidence than headline unemployment or job-openings data alone.