U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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At Hueman, we know that the more data you have, the easier it is to make decisions that affect your business and your employees. We’re updating this page monthly with the newest BLS data - so bookmark this page and always have the most up-to-date info at your fingertips! The latest report showed notable job gains in the hospitality, education, and retail sectors.
BLS, February 2026
BLS, February 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
Healthcare Industry Statistics
Healthcare was the top growth sector this month, adding 82,000 jobs — the strongest performance of any industry. Gains were distributed across ambulatory health care services (+50,000), hospitals (+18,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+13,000). Social assistance added another 42,000 positions, largely in individual and family services. Together, health care and social assistance accounted for over 124,000 of the total 130,000 jobs added nationally. Job openings in the sector trended down in December to 1.18 million, while employment levels hit a new high of 23.7 million. This sector remains the primary driver of U.S. job growth in early 2026.
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
Manufacturing Industry Statistics
Manufacturing employment was essentially flat in January 2026 at 12.59 million, consistent with the sector's performance throughout most of 2025. Hires slowed notably to 189,000 in December — among the lower readings seen in recent months — while separations outpaced hires at 245,000, pointing to a mild contraction in workforce size. Labor productivity turned negative in Q4 2025 (–1.9%), and unit labor costs surged 8.3% in the same quarter, signaling cost pressures on manufacturers. The average workweek ticked up to 40.1 hours, with overtime remaining at 2.9 hours. Tariff uncertainty and global supply chain headwinds continue to weigh on investment and hiring decisions in this sector.
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
Professional and Business Services Industry Statistics
Professional and Business Services employment edged up slightly to 22.44 million in January 2026, but the sector showed signs of softening. Job openings dropped to 943,000 in December — down significantly from 1.26 million in November — and hires fell to 680,000, while separations remained high at 930,000. This narrowing gap between hires and separations suggests employers in this space are cautious about net headcount growth. The sector's unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in January, the highest among the industries tracked here. Despite these trends, the sector commands the highest average hourly earnings at $44.96, and total compensation growth remains moderate at 2.8% year-over-year.
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
Transportation & Warehousing Industry Statistics
Transportation and Warehousing employment declined modestly to 6.548 million in January 2026, continuing a gradual pullback from the October 2025 level of 6.619 million. Employment has shed roughly 71,000 workers over the past three months, reflecting reduced demand in warehousing and logistics as post-pandemic inventory normalization continues. The sector's unemployment rate was 4.4% in January. Average hourly earnings rose to $32.34, and the average workweek was 38.1 hours. Union membership declined from 15.8% in 2024 to 13.6% in 2025, a notable shift. Producer prices in the sector increased 1.3% in January alone, pointing to rising operational costs — a challenge for carriers and logistics providers heading into 2026.
BLS, Feburary, 2026
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
Retail Industry Statistics
Retail Trade employment held near flat at 15.40 million in January 2026, following a slight pullback from December. The sector faces notable headwinds: the unemployment rate climbed to 6.0% in January — the highest among tracked industries — and separations significantly outpaced hires in December (644,000 vs. 470,000), suggesting voluntary turnover and post-holiday layoffs are weighing on net employment. Job openings fell sharply to 454,000 in December. With average weekly hours at just 29.8 and average hourly earnings of $26.03, the sector remains one of the lower-wage, higher-churn segments of the labor market. Consumer spending caution and continued e-commerce competition remain structural pressures for traditional retail employers.
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, February, 2026
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report
BLS, Latest JOLTS Report