Job vacancies in the United States increased in September 2026, while more workers voluntarily left their jobs, pointing to renewed movement in parts of the American labour market.

According to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job openings rose by 333,000 to approximately 7.52 million in September, compared with 7.19 million in August. The job openings rate also edged up to 4.5 per cent from 4.3 per cent.

The increase in vacancies was accompanied by a notable rise in voluntary resignations. The number of workers who quit their jobs reached 3.4 million, up from around 3.04 million in the previous month. The quits rate increased to 2.1 per cent from 1.9 per cent.

Hiring Activity Remains Relatively Stable

The report showed that employers hired approximately 5.4 million workers during September, compared with 5.27 million in August. The hiring rate rose slightly to 3.4 per cent.

Accommodation and food services recorded a significant increase in hiring, adding 158,000 positions during the month. This suggests that recruitment activity remained active in some service-related industries.

Total separations, which include voluntary quits, layoffs and other departures, reached approximately 5.32 million, compared with 5.18 million in August. The overall separation rate remained unchanged at 3.3 per cent.

Layoffs Decline from August

While voluntary resignations increased, layoffs and discharges moved in the opposite direction. Their number fell to approximately 1.64 million in September from 1.77 million in August. The corresponding rate declined to 1 per cent from 1.1 per cent.

The BLS also reported that layoffs declined by 70,000 in the health care and social assistance sector.

What the Figures Mean for the US Economy

The rise in job vacancies and voluntary resignations may indicate greater confidence among some workers about changing jobs or pursuing better employment opportunities. However, the increase in quits was concentrated partly in accommodation and food services, meaning the trend was not uniform across industries.

Overall, the September figures point to a labour market with relatively steady hiring, fewer layoffs and increased worker movement. Economists and policymakers will continue monitoring upcoming employment data to assess whether the improvement in labour demand can be sustained.

The latest JOLTS report will also be relevant to the Federal Reserve as it evaluates employment conditions alongside inflation and broader economic activity when considering future interest-rate decisions.