U.S. Job Openings Rise to 7 Million in January

Layoffs fell and workers quitting jobs slipped modestly, signaling a resilient labor market.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:56pm

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The U.S. Labor Department reported that job openings rose to nearly 7 million in January, exceeding economists' forecasts. Layoffs declined slightly and the number of Americans quitting their jobs, seen as a sign of confidence in job prospects, also dipped modestly. This comes after job openings peaked at a record 12.3 million in March 2022 during the post-COVID hiring boom.

Why it matters

The rise in job openings and decline in layoffs and worker resignations suggest the U.S. labor market remains resilient despite broader economic headwinds. This data provides insight into the strength of the job market and consumer confidence as the economy navigates inflationary pressures and other challenges.

The details

According to the Labor Department, there were 6.95 million job postings in January, up from 6.55 million in December and higher than economists had forecast. Layoffs fell slightly and the number of Americans quitting their jobs, which is viewed as a sign of confidence in job prospects, also slipped modestly. The data indicates the labor market has maintained strength even as the broader economy has shown signs of slowing.

  • The 6.95 million job openings were reported for January 2026.
  • Job openings peaked at a record 12.3 million in March 2022.

The players

U.S. Labor Department

The federal agency that collects and publishes data on the U.S. labor market, including job openings, layoffs, and worker resignations.

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The takeaway

The rise in U.S. job openings and decline in layoffs and worker resignations suggest the labor market remains resilient despite broader economic headwinds, providing insight into the strength of the job market and consumer confidence as the economy navigates inflationary pressures and other challenges.