Tennessee reported 183,000 job openings in June 2025, an increase from 165,000 in May, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate for the state was 5.1 percent in June, up from 4.6 percent the previous month. Nationally, the job openings rate stood at 4.4 percent in June and 4.6 percent in May.
Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated, “The job openings rate in Tennessee was 5.1 percent in June and 4.6 percent in the previous month.”
The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Tennessee was 0.7 for June, which is lower than the national ratio of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening during the same period. In total, twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had ratios below the national average; eighteen states had higher ratios, while seven matched it.
In terms of labor movement within Tennessee for June, there were 130,000 hires and 122,000 separations compared to May’s figures of 119,000 hires and 109,000 separations. Over the past year ending in June, monthly averages were recorded at 128,000 hires and 132,000 separations.
Of those separating from employment in Tennessee during June, quits accounted for 71,000 and layoffs or discharges made up another 44,000—compared to May’s numbers of 70,000 quits and 32,000 layoffs or discharges. Quits have averaged about 82,000 per month over the last year with a range between 70,000 and 105,000; layoffs and discharges averaged about 43,000 per month with a range between 31,000 and 50,000.
Statistics presented are based on findings from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which uses model-based estimates incorporating JOLTS sample data along with information from other sources such as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Current Employment Statistics (CES). Definitions clarify that job openings include all positions open on the last business day of each reference month if they meet certain conditions; hires refer to all payroll additions during that time; separations encompass all departures from payroll categorized as quits or layoffs/discharges.
State-level JOLTS estimates for July are scheduled for release on September 17.
“This news release presents statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The JOLTS program provides information on labor demand and turnover. The state estimates produced by JOLTS are model-based incorporating JOLTS sample Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Current Employment Statistics (CES) estimates,” according to information provided by BLS.
“Job Openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the reference month,” BLS noted.
“The number of unemployed persons per job opening is a ratio of the level of unemployed persons and the level of job openings… Lower ratios signal tighter labor markets where firms have more job openings than there are unemployed persons available to work,” BLS explained.
“Hires include all additions to payroll during the entire reference month,” BLS stated.
“Separations include all separations from payroll during the entire reference month and are reported by type: quits layoffs/discharges other separations,” according to BLS documentation.
