Job Openings - Nonfarm
Returns total nonfarm job openings (unfilled positions) in thousands from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Data Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Source | Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) JOLTS / FRED |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Unit | Thousands of openings |
| Coverage | Total nonfarm |
Notes
- Key indicator of labor demand and market tightness
- Part of the JOLTS report along with hires and separations
- High openings relative to unemployment suggests a tight labor market
Syntax
=JobOpenings()Returns
number
Total nonfarm job openings in thousands
Examples
=JobOpenings()=JobOpenings()*1000=JobOpenings()/Hires()=JobOpenings()/EmployeesNonfarm()*100When to Use
- Analyzing labor market tightness
- Tracking labor demand trends
- Economic forecasting
- Wage pressure analysis
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need hiring data | Hires() |
| Need layoffs data | LayoffsDischarges() |
| Need unemployment claims | InitialCliams() |
| Need total employment | EmployeesNonfarm() |
Common Issues & FAQ
What unit is the result in?
Thousands of job openings.
What is JOLTS?
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, a monthly BLS survey.
How is this different from hiring data?
Job openings are unfilled positions; hires are people actually brought on board.
Related Formulas
More MarketXLS Economic Data formulas you can use in the same worksheet:
- Labor Force Participation Rate
- Manufacture Orders - Durable Goods
- Manufacture Orders - Nondefense Capital Goods Except Aircraft
- Monetary Base
- Money Supply - M1
- Money Supply - M2
- Mortgage Rate - 15 Year
- Mortgage Rate - 30 Year
See JobOpenings used in a complete workbook: Jobs Report Tracker Excel: Live Labor Market Dashboard for May 2026 NFP
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