Job openings and hires data can show labor-market pressure, but it cannot replace a role-specific assessment of whether outside support fits. A small business may consider a virtual assistant because a recurring role is hard to fill or a manager is carrying too much administrative work. In June 2025, BLS reported 7.4 million job openings and 5.2 million hires in the U.S. economy. Those monthly totals are broad, but they make the staffing environment concrete.
Contractor and employee labor findings for VA buyers
JOLTS job openings are positions open on the last business day of the month. Hires count additions to payroll during the month. Because these are different measures and timing windows, they should not be read as a one-to-one matching of openings and hires.
Key stats
Verified August 11, 2026Key takeaways
- The June 2025 labor market had millions of openings and hires at the national level.
- The figures include every nonfarm industry and establishment size, not only small businesses or support roles.
- A buyer should compare the cost of waiting, recruiting, and managing with the cost and scope of outside support.
Why national data is only a starting point
The total nonfarm series includes large and small employers, public and private sectors, and many occupations. It cannot tell a particular owner how difficult a local search will be. It can support a more honest conversation about labor-market conditions.
When outside support deserves comparison
Outside support may be worth comparing when the work is recurring, the output can be defined, and the owner can separate decisions from preparation. It is a poor fit when the work depends on authority the assistant cannot hold or when the business has not defined the result.
Consolidated statistics
| Measure | Finding | Limit or use |
|---|---|---|
| June 2025 JOLTS measure | Result | Scope |
| Job openings | 7.4 million | Total nonfarm, last business day |
| Hires | 5.2 million | Total nonfarm, monthly payroll changes |
| Openings rate | 4.4% | Seasonally adjusted |
For a related buyer context, read the hiring evidence. For a second comparison, see the staffing cost research.
Methodology and limits
Facts were checked against the linked public sources on August 11, 2026. Findings include the unit, period, population, and source context available in each register. Survey and incident datasets can be revised or sampled, and none predicts an individual provider, worker, or buyer outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Does 7.4 million openings describe the VA market?
No. It is a total nonfarm U.S. measure. It gives context, not a niche forecast.
Why compare waiting time if speed is not guaranteed?
The buyer can still estimate the business cost of an unfilled role. That is different from promising a hiring timeline.
What is the first scope question?
Identify the recurring output and which decisions remain with the owner.
Sources
10 visible sources, verified August 11, 2026
- BLS June 2025 JOLTS release
- BLS JOLTS news
- BLS JOLTS definitions
- BLS JOLTS methods
- SBA hire and manage employees
- SBA calculate startup costs
- DOL hiring resources
- Census business formation statistics
- Census nonemployer statistics
- IRS worker classification
A practical next step
Use the evidence as a starting point, then compare one defined role with a safe work sample and a named review owner. A free consultation can help scope that comparison without treating a public statistic as a promise.
