Total US job openings fell -386k to 6.54 million in December, with private openings seeing a larger decline of -423k to 5.80 million. This is the lowest level of job openings since 2021.

• In terms of the job openings rates, the overall and private openings rates both fell -0.3 ppts MoM and -0.6 ppts YoY to 3.9% and 4.1%, respectively.
• Total hires increased by 172k to 5.29 million, while total separations increased 107k to 5.25 million.
• Total quits edged up by 11k to 3.2 million, back to levels last seen in Q2 2025. The quits rate is actually up 0.1 ppt YoY.
• Total layoffs and discharges increased by 61k to 1.76 million, with private layoffs and discharges increased by 70k to 1.969 million.
• The number of job openings for November was revised down by 218k to 6.9 million, the number of hires was revised up by 6k to 5.1 million, and the number of total separations was revised up by 64k to 5.1 million.