U.S. Job Openings Rise to 6.95 Million in January

U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in January to 6.95 million, according to a report from the Labor Department released Friday, offering a sign of potential stabilization in a labor market that has shown signs of weakness in recent months.

The increase marked an advance of 400,000 from December's revised figure of 6.55 million, surpassing economists' median forecast of 6.75 million. The data, part of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, reflected broader demand for workers even as hiring remained subdued. Hires held steady at 5.3 million for the month, with gains in professional and business services, accommodation and food services, and retail trade offsetting declines in transportation, warehousing, and utilities.

The uptick in openings was widespread across industries. Finance and insurance saw the largest gain, adding 184,000 positions, followed by health care and social assistance with 150,000 more and retail trade with 130,000. Manufacturing openings also climbed to their highest level since mid-2024. However, professional and business services experienced a decline of 190,000, continuing a two-month downward trend. Construction, real estate, and arts,...