Tennessee reported 183,000 job openings in June 2025, up from 165,000 in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that the job openings rate for Tennessee was 5.1 percent in June, compared to 4.6 percent the previous month. Nationally, the job openings rate stood at 4.4 percent in June and 4.6 percent in May.
The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Tennessee was 0.7 for June. Across the country, 25 states and the District of Columbia had lower ratios than the national figure of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening; 18 states had higher ratios and seven matched the national measure.
In June, there were 130,000 hires and 122,000 separations in Tennessee, compared to May’s totals of 119,000 hires and 109,000 separations. Over the past year ending in June, monthly averages were 128,000 hires and 132,000 separations.
Of those who separated from their jobs in Tennessee during June, there were 71,000 quits and 44,000 layoffs or discharges. In May, these figures were at 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 per month; layoffs and discharges have averaged around 43,000 monthly.
The next set of state-level Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) estimates is scheduled for release on September 17, 2025.
“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. For more information see the JOLTS State Estimates Methodology.”
Definitions used by BLS clarify that job openings are counted if they meet three specific conditions as of the last business day of each reference month. The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening reflects how many people are available for each open position; a ratio below one indicates more open jobs than available workers.
Hires represent all additions to payroll during a given month while separations include all types—quits as well as layoffs or discharges—reported by employers throughout that period.
Further technical details about state-level JOLTS data can be found in official documentation provided by BLS.
Information from this release is available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request via voice phone at (202)691-5200 or Telecommunications Relay Service at 7-1-1.
