Tennessee reported 183,000 job openings in June 2025, up 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 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.
Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee stated that “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 recorded at 0.7 for June, which is lower than the national ratio of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening during the same period. Across the country, 25 states and the District of Columbia had ratios below this national figure; meanwhile, 18 states had higher ratios and seven matched it.
In terms of labor movement within Tennessee for June, there were 130,000 hires and 122,000 separations—an increase from May’s figures of 119,000 hires and 109,000 separations. Over the past year ending in June, monthly averages for hires stood at about 128,000 while separations averaged approximately 132,000.
Breaking down separations further: Tennessee saw 71,000 quits and 44,000 layoffs or discharges during June compared to May’s totals of 70,000 quits and 32,000 layoffs or discharges. For the last twelve months on average each month there were about 82,000 quits (ranging between a low of 70,000 and a high of105 ,000) as well as an average of43 ,000 layoffs or discharges (with a range between31 ,000and50 ,000).
The next release for State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates is scheduled for September17 ,2025 at10 :00a.m.(ET).
This information comes from statistics gathered by the Bureau’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which tracks labor demand and turnover using model-based estimates derived from JOLTS sample data along with other employment statistics programs such as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)and Current Employment Statistics(CES). More details about methodology can be found through official BLS resources.
Job openings are defined as positions open on the last business day of each reference month that meet specific criteria outlined by BLS standards.
Unemployment ratios reflect how many unemployed individuals exist relative to available jobs—a lower ratio suggests a tighter labor market where employers have more vacancies than available workers; a higher ratio means more competition among job seekers per vacancy.
Hires include all payroll additions within a given month while separations count all departures—categorized into quits or involuntary exits like layoffs/discharges—for that same period.
