Mississippi reported 64,000 job openings in June 2025, down from 68,000 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 5.4 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 Mississippi was 5.1 percent in June and 5.4 percent in the previous month.” She added that “the job openings rate nationally was 4.4 percent in June and 4.6 percent in May.”
The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening was reported as 0.8 for Mississippi in June, while the national measure was slightly higher at 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening during the same period. Across the country, twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had ratios lower than the national average; eighteen states were above it, and seven matched it.
Hiring activity also saw a slight decrease with Mississippi recording 41,000 hires and 40,000 separations during June—down from May’s figures of 42,000 hires and 39,000 separations. Over the twelve months ending in June, monthly averages for hires stood at 44,000 while separations averaged at about 43,000 per month.
Among those separated from their jobs in Mississippi during June, there were approximately 27,000 quits and around 11,000 layoffs or discharges—compared to May’s totals of roughly 26,000 quits and about 10,000 layoffs or discharges. Quits over the past year have ranged between approximately 24,000 to as high as about 32,000 each month; layoffs and discharges have averaged around 13,000 monthly within a range of roughly between ten thousand to eighteen thousand.
State-level estimates are produced using model-based methods that incorporate sample data from JOLTS along with information from both Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and Current Employment Statistics (CES) programs.
The next release of state Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) estimates is scheduled for September 17th at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
Definitions used by JOLTS clarify that job openings count only positions open on the last business day of each reference month if they meet all required conditions; hires include all additions to payroll within that month; separations include quits as well as layoffs/discharges plus other forms not published with state data due to their small share.
Further technical details on methodology can be found through official BLS resources or by contacting their office directly.
