U.S. Job Openings and Labor Turnovers Survey Reports Minimal Changes in January 2026

Posted on March 15, 2026

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Friday (3-13-26), the results of its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) for January 2026. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in January the number of job openings were little changed at 6.9 million and 4.2%, respectively.

The BLS notes that this release includes estimates of the number and rate of job openings, hires, and separations for the total nonfarm sector, by industry, and by establishment size class. Job openings include all positions that are open on the last business day of the month. Hires and separations include all changes to the payroll during the entire month.

The BLS report that in January:

  • The number and rate of hires were little changed at 5.3 million and 3.3%, respectively.
  • The number and rate of total separations were little changed at 5.1 million and 3.2%, respectively.
  • The number and rate of quits rate of quits were little changed at 3.1 million and 2.0%, respectively.
  • The number and rate of layoffs and discharges were little changed at 1.6 million and 1.0%, respectively.
  • The number of other separations was little changed at 337,000.

The BLS is reporting that In January, establishments with 1 to 9 employees and establishments with 5,000 or more employees showed little or no change in job openings, hires, and separations rates

December 2025 Revisions

The BLS notes that monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.

The number of job openings for December was revised up by 8,000 to 6.6 million, the number of hires was revised down by 21,000 to 5.3 million, and the number of total separations was revised down by 48,000 to 5.2 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised up by 21,000 to 3.2 million, and the number of layoffs and discharges was revised down by 96,000 to 1.7 million.

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