Data shows: U.S. job openings rise slightly in January

MaticHoleFiller · 2026-03-20T20:02:21+00:00

US job openings rose slightly to 6.9 million in January, with layoffs declining to 1.6 million, performing slightly better than expected. However, February employment data showed an unexpected decline, with overall hiring remaining sluggish, as economists monitor the trajectory of labor market changes.

MaticHoleFiller

2026-03-20 20:02:21

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The U.S. government released data on Friday showing a slight increase in job openings in January, with layoffs decreasing.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) indicated that the number of job openings at the beginning of the year was 6.9 million, with 1.6 million layoffs and dismissals.

The figures were slightly better than expected: economists surveyed by Bloomberg had previously estimated about 6.8 million job openings and approximately 1.8 million layoffs and dismissals for the month.

Data showed that job openings increased in the Finance and Insurance sector, adding 184,000 positions; Healthcare and Social Assistance also saw an increase of 150,000 openings. However, Professional and Business Services saw a decrease of 190,000 openings.

The hiring rate stood at 3.3%; the quit rate (considered an indicator of worker confidence) remained at 2%.

As this data was released, economists are closely watching for any signs of recovery or deterioration in the labor market, which has already been stagnant.

In December, job openings fell to their lowest level since 2020, at 6.6 million, but employment surged by 126,000 jobs in January. While this suggests the labor market may be stabilizing, the poor employment report for February challenged that view—showing an unexpected decline of 96,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, private data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global career transition consulting firm, painted a bleak picture for January: amid the “lowest recorded January hiring volume,” over 108,000 layoffs were announced that month.

Although layoffs slowed in February, new hiring plans remained subdued compared to the same period last year.

Regarding the overall situation last year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual estimates released on Friday showed:

The average number of job openings in 2025 is projected to be 7.1 million, a decrease of 571,000 from 2024
Total hires for the year are estimated at 63 million, down 1.5 million year-over-year
Layoffs increased by 1.2 million during the same period

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