BLS Releases January 2026 JOLTS Report: 6.946M Job Openings, Above Forecast

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the January 2026 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on March 31, showing 6.946 million job openings — above the consensus forecast of approximately 6.85–6.89 million. Hires were unchanged at 5.3 million (3.3% rate). Layoffs and quits were little changed from December. Finance and insurance saw the largest increase in openings (+184,000). The above-forecast reading offered a modest silver lining for labor market watchers, though it was overshadowed by the February jobs report (released March 6) that showed the economy losing 92,000 jobs — well below the +50,000 forecast — driven by DOGE-driven federal workforce reductions and private sector caution linked to the US-Iran war oil shock. Markets digested the JOLTS data ahead of the March nonfarm payrolls report scheduled for April 3 (Good Friday), when equity markets will be closed.