Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, March 31, 2026     USDL-26-0579
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                         JOB OPENINGS AND LABOR TURNOVER – FEBRUARY 2026

The number of job openings was little changed at 6.9 million in February, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Over the month, hires decreased to 4.8 million, and total separations changed 
little at 5.0 million. Within separations, quits (3.0 million) were little changed while layoffs and 
discharges (1.7 million) were unchanged.  

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. 
 
Job Openings

The number and rate of job openings were little changed at 6.9 million and 4.2 percent, respectively, in 
February. The number of job openings decreased in accommodation and food services (-211,000) and in 
mining and logging (-12,000). (See table 1.) 

Hires
The number of hires decreased to 4.8 million (-498,000) in February and was down by 387,000 over the 
year. The hires rate decreased over the month to 3.1 percent. This was the lowest hires rate since April 
2020 when it was also 3.1 percent. In February, the number of hires decreased in accommodation and 
food services (-178,000) and in construction (-88,000). (See table 2.)

Separations 

Total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are generally 
voluntary separations initiated by the employee. Therefore, the quits rate can serve as a measure of 
workers’ willingness or ability to leave jobs. Layoffs and discharges are involuntary separations initiated 
by the employer. Other separations include separations due to retirement, death, disability, and transfers 
to other locations of the same firm.

In February, the number and rate of total separations were little changed at 5.0 million and 3.1 percent, 
respectively. The number of total separations decreased in federal government (-16,000). (See table 3.) 

In February, the number and rate of quits were little changed at 3.0 million and 1.9 percent, 
respectively. The number of quits decreased in accommodation and food services (-119,000), wholesale 
trade (-35,000), and federal government (-6,000). Quits increased in nondurable goods manufacturing 
(+21,000). (See table 4.)

The number of layoffs and discharges remained unchanged at 1.7 million. The layoffs and discharges 
rate was little changed at 1.1 percent. The number of layoffs and discharges increased in retail trade 
(+72,000). Layoffs and discharges decreased in nondurable goods manufacturing (-26,000) and in 
federal government (-3,000). (See table 5.)

The number of other separations decreased to 277,000 (-75,000) in February. (See table 6.)

Establishment Size Class

In February, the job openings rate decreased for establishments with 1 to 9 employees, while the hires, 
quits, layoffs and discharges, and total separations rates showed little change. For establishments with 
5,000 or more employees, all rates showed little or no change. (See table 7.)

January 2026 Revisions

The number of job openings for January was revised up by 294,000 to 7.2 million, the number of hires 
was revised up by 53,000 to 5.3 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 39,000 to 
5.1 million. Within separations, the number of quits was revised down by 6,000 to 3.1 million, and the 
number of layoffs and discharges was revised up by 29,000 to 1.7 million. (Monthly revisions result 
from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published 
estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)
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The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey estimates for March 2026 are scheduled to be 
released on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).