TL;DR
Yes, for the first time in 12 weeks. MORT's ATS feed recorded 44,809 US job postings in the week of 10-17 Aug 2026 - 1,177 below the mid-June 2026 baseline of 45,986 (-2.6%). In all 11 prior tracking weeks that count had stayed above the baseline. Remote listings also crossed below baseline for the first time. ADP (+44k July payrolls) and Indeed (-2.9% YoY posting volumes) independently signal the same direction.
The headline: US drops below its own June baseline
MORT tracks new job postings from company ATS platforms - Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby, SmartRecruiters, JazzHR, and others - for a rolling 7-day window every week. Since the first reading on 17 Jun 2026, the US count had never fallen below that week's baseline of 45,986. Until now.
In the week of 10-17 Aug 2026, the US recorded 44,809 new postings - down 5.1% from the prior week (47,217) and 2.6% below the June baseline. It is a small gap in percentage terms, but the direction matters: this is the first time in 12 consecutive weekly reads that the US count has not merely held above June levels, it has moved below them.
| Week | US new listings | vs Jun baseline (45,986) |
|---|---|---|
| 17-24 Jun 2026 (baseline) | 45,986 | — |
| 22-29 Jun | 51,164 | +11.3% |
| 29 Jun-6 Jul | 46,516 | +1.2% |
| 6-13 Jul (Jul 4 week) | 46,285 | +0.6% |
| 13-20 Jul | 51,371 | +11.7% |
| 20-27 Jul | 51,164 | +11.3% |
| 27 Jul-3 Aug | 48,243 | +4.9% |
| 3-10 Aug | 47,217 | +2.7% |
| 10-17 Aug (W34) | 44,809 | -2.6% ▼ first below |
Full-feed ATS counts, not a sample. Each row is the 7-day window ending on the date shown. The Jun baseline (17-24 Jun) is Run 1 of the weekly market-report series.
Three independent signals, same direction
A single data source moving below a self-defined baseline is only moderately interesting. Three sources pointing the same way is a real signal.
| Source | Metric | August 2026 reading | Direction vs prior |
|---|---|---|---|
| MORT ATS feed | US new postings (7-day) | 44,809 (wk of 10-17 Aug) | First below Jun baseline in 12 weeks |
| ADP National Employment Report | US private-sector payrolls (July) | +44,000 | Well below ~180k historical average |
| Indeed Hiring Lab Q2 2026 Outlook | US job posting volumes | -2.9% year-on-year | Down YoY for the quarter |
| JOLTS (BLS) | US job openings (June) | 7.4 million | Still elevated but trending lower |
Sources: MORT ATS feed (proprietary, full-feed count); ADP National Employment Report July 2026; Indeed Hiring Lab Q2 2026 Outlook Survey (released 5 Aug 2026); BLS JOLTS June 2026.
The ADP figure of +44,000 is the most striking. The US has averaged roughly 180,000 private-sector payroll additions per month over the past two years. It is not a recession signal on its own - the labour market remains historically tight - but it is a notable slowdown in hiring commitment from employers.
The convergence across three measurement types matters. MORT's ATS feed captures employer intent (postings going live on career pages). ADP captures actual realised hiring (payroll additions). Indeed captures aggregate demand signalling across a different set of listing sources. When all three move in the same direction in the same month, it is more than a composition artefact.
Remote listings: also below baseline for the first time
The same pattern applies to remote listings. MORT's full-feed remote-only count for 10-17 Aug 2026 is 21,041 - the first week below the mid-June baseline of 22,280 across 12 readings (-5.6%).
| Metric | W34 (10-17 Aug) | W26 baseline (17-24 Jun) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total new listings (all countries) | 88,479 | 102,184 | -13,705 (-13.4%) |
| US new listings | 44,809 | 45,986 | -1,177 (-2.6%) ▼ first below |
| Remote-only listings (full feed) | 21,041 | 22,280 | -1,239 (-5.6%) ▼ first below |
Full-feed counts (not samples). W26 baseline from the week of 17-24 Jun 2026 (Run 1). Both US and remote crossed below baseline simultaneously for the first time in the 12-week tracking window.
In all prior weeks, remote listings had remained at or above 22,280 even as total market volume fluctuated. The simultaneous crossing of both US totals and remote-only listings below baseline in the same week is the sharpest signal the tracking data has produced since June.
How does this compare to a US holiday week?
One useful benchmark: the July 4, 2026 week. US national holidays typically suppress postings as hiring teams pause. The week of 29 Jun-6 Jul 2026 included July 4; the total market came in at 99,035 new listings across all countries.
W34's total of 88,479 is 10.7% below that holiday-week reading. There is no US public holiday in the week of 10-17 Aug. The market is now running slower in a normal working week than it was during a week with a bank holiday in its largest constituent country.
| Week | Total new listings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17-24 Jun (W26 baseline) | 102,184 | Run 1; first tracking week |
| 29 Jun-6 Jul (Jul 4 week) | 99,035 | US July 4 bank holiday |
| 13-20 Jul (peak) | 108,091 | 12-week high |
| 27 Jul-3 Aug | 95,824 | First sub-100k since Jul 4 week |
| 3-10 Aug | 93,662 | Second consecutive sub-100k |
| 10-17 Aug (W34) | 88,479 | 12-week low; -10.7% vs Jul 4 week |
Full-feed total new listings across all 10 monitored countries (US, GB, DE, FR, CA, IN, NL, AU, ES, IE). Peak was the week of 13-20 Jul 2026 (108,091).
Country picture: Canada and Australia hold positive, France at 12-week low
Not every market followed the US. Canada posted 3,255 listings (+6.1% WoW, though still -4.4% below its own June baseline). Australia posted 1,303 (+4.1% WoW). Both are small markets relative to the US and move with different seasonal rhythms.
| Country | W34 listings | WoW change | vs Jun baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 44,809 | -5.1% | -2.6% (first below) |
| United Kingdom | 5,677 | -5.8% | -44.4% |
| Germany | 3,785 | -5.4% | -21.9% |
| Canada | 3,255 | +6.1% | -4.4% |
| India | 2,634 | -4.5% | -11.6% |
| France | 2,610 | -11.8% | -36.7% (12-wk low) |
| Netherlands | 1,685 | +1.8% | -18.2% |
| Australia | 1,303 | +4.1% | -15.1% |
| Spain | 1,024 | -15.4% | -26.0% |
| Ireland | 611 | +3.0% | -4.4% |
Full-feed counts, 7-day window 10-17 Aug 2026. WoW compares to 3-10 Aug (W33). Jun baseline is the week of 17-24 Jun 2026 (W26). Spain -15.4% WoW is the largest single-country WoW decline this week. France at 2,610 is its lowest reading across 12 weeks; grande vacances drag is the structural explanation.
ATS platform data: SmartRecruiters posts a sixth consecutive decline
SmartRecruiters recorded 16,709 new postings in W34 - its sixth consecutive weekly decline from the W29 peak of 21,631. The total fall from peak to W34 is -22.7%. Personio posted a fifth consecutive decline (-45.4% from its own W29 peak of 2,321 to 1,268).
| ATS platform | W34 listings | WoW change | vs W29 peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse | 42,694 | -7.1% | — |
| SmartRecruiters | 16,709 | -2.7% | -22.7% (6th consec.) |
| JazzHR | 6,534 | -8.8% | -21.8% |
| Ashby | 5,005 | -1.9% | +5.9% |
| Recruitee | 3,126 | +7.7% | -9.7% |
| Lever | 3,030 | -8.2% | -8.1% |
| TeamTailor | 3,122 | -3.8% | -7.6% |
| Rippling | 1,453 | +10.1% | +9.8% |
| Personio | 1,268 | -2.6% | -45.4% (5th consec.) |
Full-feed counts by ATS platform, 7-day window 10-17 Aug 2026. W29 peak is the week of 13-20 Jul 2026 (the 12-week high). SmartRecruiters decline series: W29 21,631 → W30 19,581 → W31 18,073 → W32 17,816 → W33 17,177 → W34 16,709. Personio decline series: W29 2,321 → W30 2,228 → W31 2,156 → W32 1,683 → W33 1,302 → W34 1,268.
What this means for job seekers right now
A weaker market does not mean an inactive one. The US posted 44,809 new listings in a single week - there is still substantial active hiring. But a softer market does change the competitive dynamics in a few concrete ways.
Fit matters more when volume is lower. When fewer roles are available, applying to poorly matched roles is a larger relative waste of time. In a softer market the cost of a low-fit application - time spent, and a slot used before a more relevant role appears - rises while the number of good alternatives falls. Focus applications on roles where your skills profile closely overlaps the stated requirements.
Timing is still the single biggest variable. Analysis of application timing shows that candidates applying within 24 hours of a posting going live are significantly more likely to get a response than those applying on day 5 or later. In a market with fewer new postings per week, catching each new role early - before the initial wave of applicants - becomes even more valuable.
The drop is not structural (yet). 44,809 is below the June baseline, but it is not a dramatic floor. Summer seasonal effects - specifically August slowdowns across Europe and lighter hiring activity from US companies as Q3 planning finalises - account for some of the softness. The weekly data will tell us in two or three weeks whether this is a seasonal trough or the beginning of a more persistent downward shift.
Frequently asked questions
Is the US job market weaker than it was in June 2026?
Yes, for the first time in 12 weeks. MORT's ATS feed recorded 44,809 US postings in the week of 10-17 Aug 2026 - below the mid-June baseline of 45,986 by 1,177 (-2.6%). In all 11 prior tracking weeks, that count had stayed at or above the baseline. ADP independently reported +44,000 US private-sector payrolls in July (well below the ~180k historical average), and Indeed Hiring Lab recorded -2.9% YoY posting volumes for Q2 2026. Three sources now point the same way.
How many US jobs were posted in August 2026?
MORT's direct ATS feed tracked 44,809 new US job postings in the 7-day window of 10-17 Aug 2026 - down 5.1% from 47,217 the prior week, and 2.6% below the mid-June 2026 baseline (45,986). The total across all 10 monitored countries reached 88,479 new listings in the same window - a new 12-week low and 10.7% below the total for the July 4 US holiday week (99,035).
Is remote work hiring also declining?
Yes, and also for the first time since tracking began. MORT's full-feed remote-only count for 10-17 Aug 2026 is 21,041 - below the mid-June 2026 baseline of 22,280 for the first time in 12 consecutive readings (-5.6%). In all prior weeks, remote listings had held at or above 22,280 even as total volumes fluctuated. The simultaneous first-below-baseline reading for both US totals and remote listings in the same week is the most notable signal this tracking series has produced since June.
What do three data sources say about US hiring right now?
All three point to a softer August 2026 market. MORT's ATS feed shows 44,809 US postings (first below-baseline reading in 12 weeks). ADP reported +44,000 US private payrolls in July well below the ~180k historical monthly average. Indeed Hiring Lab recorded job posting volumes -2.9% year-on-year for Q2 2026. JOLTS June 2026 openings were 7.4 million - still elevated historically but trending lower. The convergence across ATS postings (employer intent), payroll additions (realised hiring), and job board volumes (demand signalling) makes the August softening more than a single-source artefact.
Should I keep applying for jobs if the market is weaker?
Yes. The US still posted 44,809 new listings in a single week - there is still substantial active hiring. "Weaker than baseline" is not the same as "no jobs". In a softer market, the levers that matter most are fit (applying to roles where your skills closely match requirements) and timing (applying within 24 hours of a posting going live, when the candidate pool is smallest). MORT is an AI job-matching platform for people who want to apply to more relevant jobs in less time. It scans thousands of company career pages, scores every job 0-100% for compatibility with your skills and experience, and generates a tailored resume for each application - both help in the conditions the August data describes.
Apply to roles where you have the strongest case
MORT is an AI job-matching platform for people who want to apply to more relevant jobs in less time. It scans thousands of company career pages, scores every job 0-100% for compatibility with your skills and experience, and generates a tailored resume for each application.
Sources
- MORT Job Market Data, week of 10-17 Aug 2026 (MORT ATS feed,
scripts/market-report-fetch.mjs) - proprietary data - ADP National Employment Report - Private Sector Employment Increased by 44,000 Jobs in July 2026: mediacenter.adp.com
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) - June 2026: bls.gov
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation Summary - July 2026: bls.gov
- Indeed Hiring Lab, Q2 2026 Labor Market Outlook Survey (released 5 Aug 2026): hiringlab.indeed.com
- US News & World Report, "Hiring Slows as Firms Remain Cautious About Adding Workers" (5 Aug 2026): usnews.com
- US News & World Report, "Job Openings Dip But Labor Market Steady" (4 Aug 2026): usnews.com