The JOLTS job openings report for September, published on November 3, 2026 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), counted 7.5 million job openings in the United States, a slight rise from the revised 7.2 million in August. That same day, Wall Street closed mixed and Brent crude fell to $103.14 a barrel, its lowest level since October 7.
The US Labor Market According to the September JOLTS Report
In its release dated November 3, 2026, the BLS stated: “The number of job openings was little changed at 7.5 million in September… Hires and total separations changed little at 5.4 million and 5.3 million, respectively. Within separations, quits (3.4 million) increased, while layoffs and discharges (1.6 million) were little changed.” (BLS, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, November 3, 2026).
August’s figure was also revised upward, by 111,000 openings, to reach 7.2 million according to the same release. Quits, often read as a gauge of workers’ confidence to change jobs, rose to 3.4 million in September from a revised 3.0 million in August, with the quits rate holding steady at 2.1%.
Wall Street’s Close on Tuesday, November 3, Election Day
On the very day of the US midterm elections, and before the results were known, the three major New York indexes closed the November 3 session without a common direction. The S&P 500 gained 0.36%, to 7,568.92 points, the Nasdaq rose 0.83%, to 25,372.01 points, lifted by a rebound in artificial intelligence heavyweights, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.38%, to 51,787.04 points (Zonebourse, Reuters translation, November 3, 2026).
This divergence illustrates a pattern already seen in previous sessions: a technology-heavy index lifted by a handful of artificial intelligence names can rise while a more industrial index falls the same day. This was already the case in the November 1, 2026 briefing, where the Nasdaq had dropped after mixed earnings from Amazon.
Brent Falls Below $103, Far From October’s Highs
In oil markets, Brent crude futures fell $1.63, or 2%, to $103.14 a barrel on Tuesday afternoon (10:44 a.m. ET, 3:44 p.m. GMT), their lowest level since October 7, according to Reuters. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 67 cents, or 1%, to $95.79 (Boursorama, Reuters, November 3, 2026).
This decline comes as tripartite peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States are scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi, confirmed by the Kremlin according to the same source. This price level contrasts with the $116.72 recorded on October 25, 2026 and the $115 seen on October 26, 2026, confirming a downward trend that began with the peace discussions mentioned in the November 2, 2026 briefing on Iran-Qatar talks in Doha.
| Indicator | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | 7,568.92 points | +0.36% |
| Nasdaq | 25,372.01 points | +0.83% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 51,787.04 points | -0.38% |
| Brent | $103.14 a barrel | -2% |
| WTI | $95.79 a barrel | -1% |
Today’s Agenda: ADP, ISM Services and Trade Balance
This Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the ADP National Employment Report for October is due at 8:15 a.m. ET. The ADP release specifies the publication date and recalls September’s figure: “Private-sector employment increased by 90,000 jobs in September… The October 2026 ADP National Employment Report will be released on November 4, 2026 at 8:15 a.m. ET.” (ADP National Employment Report, September 30, 2026).
The ISM Services index for October is also published this same day, the third business day of the month, at 10:00 a.m. ET, according to the official calendar of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM, Report Release Date Calendar). For September, the ISM had reported a services index of 54.9% (ISM, Services PMI, release of October 5, 2026). The September trade balance is also on today’s agenda; August’s goods and services deficit stood at $105.6 billion, with the next release announced for November 4, 2026 (Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis, release of October 6, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions About the JOLTS Report
What Is the JOLTS Report?
The JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) is a monthly survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that measures job openings, hires and separations (quits, layoffs) in the United States. The September 2026 report, released on November 3, is the latest available edition.
Why Was August’s Figure Revised?
The BLS regularly revises its previous estimates as additional data becomes available. For August 2026, this revision raised the number of job openings by 111,000, to 7.2 million, according to the November 3, 2026 release.
What Does the Rise in Quits Mean?
A rise in quits, here to 3.4 million in September from a revised 3.0 million in August, generally reflects greater willingness among workers to leave their jobs, often interpreted as a sign of confidence in the labor market. The quits rate, however, held steady at 2.1% according to the BLS.
Does the JOLTS Report Alone Explain Wall Street’s Mixed Session?
No, this article does not establish a cause-and-effect link between the JOLTS report and the November 3 close: the two events are reported side by side because they fell on the same day, without the available sources establishing a direct mechanism between the two.
To understand some of the mechanisms mentioned in these market briefings, the article on the stop-limit order details a tool used during periods of volatility such as the one seen in Brent crude in recent days.