Job Openings and Labor Turnover: February 2026

Historical release narrative reproduced from the official public-domain source. Statistical tables, standard technical appendices, administrative material and attendance rosters are omitted; formatting is adapted for reading. Figures retain the release's historical context and may have been revised. Consult the linked source for the complete document.

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.)