Midwest job openings little changed in August 2026; hires up and separations down — what it means for Indiana employers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Aug. 2026 job openings in the Midwest (the region that includes Indiana) at 1,527,000, little changed from July. Hires in the Midwest rose to 1,153,000 while total separations fell to 1,097,000 (preliminary data).
The BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for August 2026 shows the Midwest had 1,527,000 job openings (preliminary), a decline of 6,000 from July 2026 but essentially little changed month-to-month; the openings rate remained 4.4 percent. Hires in the Midwest increased by 35,000 to 1,153,000 with a hires rate of 3.4 percent, while total separations decreased by 117,000 to 1,097,000 and the separations rate fell to 3.3 percent.
These figures are seasonally adjusted and preliminary; the release notes that data are subject to revision with the annual updates incorporated in the January release.
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
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