US Openings Decline in January as Hires and Separations Climb

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The United States opened 2022 with lower job openings, as hires and separations increased in January.

• Total openings for January stood at 11.263 million, lower than the 11.448 million in December but higher than the 7.232 million the same month in 2021.
• The private sector accounted for 10.234 million, with the highest in education and health services with 2.129 million and professional and business services with 2.065 million.
• Government hires for the month were 1.029 million, lower than the 1.105 million in December but up from the 746,000 in January 2021.
• Hires for the month climbed slightly to 6.457 million from 6.450 million in December and up from 5.719 million in January.
• Separations increased to 6.058 million from 6.042 million in December and 5.172 million in the same month the previous year.
• The 12 months ending in January recorded a net employment gain of 6.4 million, covering workers who may have been hired and separated more than once over the year.