Kentucky reported 105,000 job openings in June 2025, a decrease from 117,000 in May, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate for Kentucky stood at 4.8 percent in June, down from 5.4 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 commented on the figures: “The job openings rate in Kentucky was 4.8 percent in June and 5.4 percent in the previous month.”
The ratio of unemployed persons per job opening in Kentucky was reported at 1.0 for June, indicating one available job for every unemployed person in the state during that period. Across the United States, this ratio varied; twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had lower ratios than the national average of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening, while eighteen states had higher ratios and seven matched the national figure.
In terms of labor movement, Kentucky saw 75,000 hires and 69,000 separations during June compared to May’s totals of 81,000 hires and 72,000 separations. Over the past year ending in June, monthly averages were recorded at approximately 76,000 hires and 72,000 separations.
Looking more closely at separations within Kentucky for June: there were 39,000 quits and 26,000 layoffs or discharges reported—figures slightly below those from May (42,000 quits and 25,000 layoffs/discharges). Over twelve months leading up to June, monthly quits averaged about 43,000 with a range between 36,000 to 50,000; layoffs and discharges averaged around 24,000 per month with a range between 19,000 to 30,000.
The next set of state-level Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates is scheduled for release on September 17.
This information comes from the Bureau’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which uses data from several sources including JOLTS sample surveys as well as employment statistics programs like QCEW and CES to model state estimates.
Definitions provided by BLS clarify that a position is counted as open only if it meets three specific conditions regarding availability and recruitment efforts; hires are all payroll additions within a reference month; separations include all types of departures such as quits or layoffs over that same period.
Further technical details about methodology can be found through BLS resources dedicated to JOLTS State Estimates Methodology.
