US Job Openings Rise Despite Sluggish Labor Market

Job postings reach nearly 7 million in January, exceeding economists' forecasts

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The U.S. Labor Department reported that job openings rose to nearly 7 million in January, higher than expected, despite a sluggish labor market. Layoffs fell slightly and the number of Americans quitting their jobs also slipped modestly. However, the overall job market has been sputtering, with employers cutting 92,000 jobs last month and adding fewer than 10,000 jobs per month in 2025, the weakest hiring outside of recession years since 2002.

Why it matters

The rise in job openings amid a sluggish labor market highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities facing the U.S. economy. While the job market has shown resilience in the face of factors like trade policies and geopolitical tensions, the slowdown in hiring and economic growth raises concerns about the overall economic outlook.

The details

According to the Labor Department, the 6.95 million job postings in January were up from 6.55 million in December, exceeding economists' forecasts. However, the American job market has been sputtering, with employers cutting 92,000 jobs last month and adding fewer than 10,000 jobs per month in 2025, the weakest hiring outside of recession years since 2002. The Commerce Department also reported that economic growth slowed sharply in the last three months of 2025, to 0.7%, down from a strong 4.4% advance in the third quarter.

  • The 6.95 million job openings were reported in January 2026.
  • In 2025, employers added fewer than 10,000 jobs per month, the weakest hiring outside of recession years since 2002.

The players

U.S. Labor Department

The federal agency responsible for collecting and analyzing data on the U.S. labor market, including job openings, layoffs, and employment trends.

U.S. Commerce Department

The federal agency responsible for collecting and analyzing data on the U.S. economy, including economic growth and other macroeconomic indicators.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The rise in job openings amid a sluggish labor market highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges facing the U.S. economy. While the job market has shown resilience, the slowdown in hiring and economic growth raises concerns about the overall economic outlook, underscoring the need for policymakers to closely monitor and address these trends.