Tennessee reported 183,000 job openings in June 2025, an increase from 165,000 in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate for the state rose to 5.1 percent in June from 4.6 percent the previous month. Nationally, the job openings rate was 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 stood at 0.7 for June, which is lower than the national ratio of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening during that 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 hiring activity, Tennessee recorded 130,000 hires and 122,000 separations for June compared to May’s figures of 119,000 hires and 109,000 separations. Over the past year ending in June, monthly averages were calculated at about 128,000 hires and approximately 132,000 separations.
Of those separating from employment during June in Tennessee, there were 71,000 quits and 44,000 layoffs or discharges—up from May’s totals of 70,000 quits and 32,000 layoffs or discharges. Over twelve months ending with this reporting period, quits averaged around 82,000 per month while layoffs and discharges averaged about 43,000 per month.
The next release for State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates is scheduled for September 17th at ten o’clock Eastern Time.
Statistics cited are drawn from the Bureau’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which uses a model-based approach combining data from several sources including JOLTS samples as well as other labor market surveys such as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Current Employment Statistics (CES). Definitions used by JOLTS specify that a position must meet three conditions to be considered open on the last business day of each reference month.
Unemployment figures at both national and state levels are derived using different methodologies: national numbers come from the Current Population Survey (CPS), while state-level estimates use models developed by Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). A ratio below one indicates more available jobs than unemployed individuals seeking work; a higher ratio means more competition among job seekers for each available position.
Hires reflect all payroll additions within a given month; separations include all departures—categorized into quits or involuntary terminations such as layoffs—with some minor categories not published with state-level releases.
Further details about definitions or exclusions related to these statistics can be found through technical notes provided by BLS upon request.
