Kentucky reported 105,000 job openings in June 2025, down from 117,000 in May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job openings rate for the state stood at 4.8 percent in June compared to 5.4 percent the previous month. Nationally, the job openings rate was 4.4 percent in June and 4.6 percent in May.
Victoria G. Lee, Regional Commissioner for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said, “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. Across the country, twenty-five states and the District of Columbia had lower ratios than the national figure of 0.9 unemployed persons per job opening; eighteen states had higher ratios, while seven matched the national measure.
In terms of labor movement, Kentucky recorded 75,000 hires and 69,000 separations during June—both figures reflecting a decrease from May’s totals of 81,000 hires and 72,000 separations. Over the year ending in June, monthly averages were calculated at 76,000 hires and 72,000 separations.
Looking closer at types of separations for June: there were 39,000 quits and 26,000 layoffs or discharges in Kentucky versus May’s numbers of 42,000 quits and 25,000 layoffs or discharges. During the past twelve months quits have averaged about 43,000 per month with a range between 36,000 and 50,000; layoffs and discharges averaged around 24,000 per month within a range from 19,000 to 30,000.
The next release for State Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates is scheduled for September 17th.
This data comes from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), which provides information on labor demand and turnover using model-based estimates that incorporate multiple sources including JOLTS samples as well as employment statistics programs such as QCEW and CES.
Definitions used by JOLTS clarify that job openings are counted only if positions are open on the last business day of each reference month under specific conditions; hires include all additions to payroll during that month; separations cover all departures from payroll categorized into quits or involuntary losses like layoffs or discharges.
A ratio value of one unemployed person per job opening indicates an equal number of available jobs to people seeking work; lower ratios suggest tighter labor markets with more vacancies than available workers while higher ratios indicate increased competition among job seekers.
Further technical details about these estimates can be found through BLS resources dedicated to methodology notes on state-level JOLTS data.
