US Job Openings 1-23-26

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