By
early 2026, the U.S. had around 7.1 million job openings, with major needs
in Healthcare & Social
Assistance (1.34M)
and Professional/Business
Services (1.33M),
alongside growing demand in Construction, driven by tech, energy and aging
populations; look for roles like nurses, IT specialists, skilled trades, and
data professionals to remain strong.
Key
Sectors with High Openings & Growth
Healthcare & Social
Assistance: Consistently
high demand, especially for registered nurses, LPNs, and medical assistants.
Professional &
Business Services: Strong
demand for analysts (data, market), IT managers, software developers, and
financial managers.
Construction: Rapid
growth, needing skilled trades like automotive and electronics technicians.
Technology: High
need for AI, cybersecurity, data engineers, and software developers.
Retail & Hospitality: Saw recent increases in openings, with high demand for customer service and sales roles.
In-Demand
Roles Across Industries
Healthcare: Registered
Nurses, LPNs, Medical Assistants.
Tech: Data
Scientists, Info Security Analysts, Software Developers, Data Engineers.
Trades/Technical: Automotive
Techs, Electronics Techs, Repair Techs, Quality Assurance Engineers.
Business: Market Research Analysts, Financial Managers, Admin Assistants.
Key
Trends Driving Demand
Digital
Transformation: Creating tech roles (AI, cybersecurity).
Aging Population: Boosting healthcare needs.
As of January 2026, the U.S. labor market has approximately 7.1 million job openings. This total represents a "calibration" of the labor market from previous highs, with job seekers slightly outnumbering available positions for the first time since 2021.
U.S.
Job Openings by Industry (Early 2026)
The following data reflects the most recent 2026 reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and industry analysts:
Industry Job Openings
Health
Care 1.34
million
Professional
Business 1.33 million
Retail
and Transportation 1 million
Hospitality 800-900 k
Manufacturing 385k
Construction 400k
Government 300-400k
Key
Market Insights for 2026
Sector Divergence: Hiring demand is concentrated in sectors tied to essential services (health, education) and public investment (construction, infrastructure), while white-collar support and discretionary sectors (leisure) have slowed.
Fastest-Growing
Occupations:
Health: Nurse
practitioners, home health aides, and mental health professionals.
Technology: AI and machine learning engineers, cybersecurity analysts, and data scientists.
Labor
Ratio: The ratio of job openings to unemployed workers currently stands at
roughly 1 to 1, down from its 2022 peak of 2 to 1.
For active job seekers, the Indeed 2026 US Jobs Report notes that while openings have cooled, stability has returned to the market, favoring those with specialized, credentialed skills.
https://www.google.com/search?q=us+7+million+job+openings+by+industry+2026
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader