US Job Openings Unexpectedly Rebound From 5-Year Low in January

Fewer workers quit their jobs to start 2026, a sign of waning confidence about the labor market.

A job seeker waits to talk to a recruiter at a job fair in Sunrise, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2025. Marta Lavandier/AP Photo

The number of job openings in January exceeded expectations, signaling potential renewed demand for labor amid sluggish employment conditions.

Job vacancies climbed to 6.94 million, from an upwardly revised 6.55 million in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its delayed report on March 13.