As 2026 gets underway, the U.S. jobs market is doing what it often does in January: shaking off the holidays and finding its footing. Job openings rebounded month-over-month across industries, reflecting a typical seasonal uptick.

But year-over-year comparisons tell a more nuanced story. Bullhorn’s job market trends, which track millions of U.S. job openings in near real time, show a labor market that remains cautious, selective, and uneven. Some sectors are continuing to pull back, others are holding steady, and a few are quietly gaining ground despite broader economic headwinds.

Here’s what the data shows about where the market stands at the end of January 2026, and how recruitment teams can turn these signals into smarter decisions.

Job openings rebound seasonally, but year-over-year declines persist

January brought a predictable increase in job postings after the holiday slowdown, with month-over-month growth visible across nearly every industry. That rebound is encouraging, but it doesn’t fully offset the broader year-over-year trend. Compared to January 2025, job openings are still down across most sectors.

Professional roles saw the steepest decline, with 16% fewer openings year-over-year. This aligns with what many staffing firms are experiencing on the ground: longer sales cycles, more approvals required, and increased scrutiny around white-collar hiring.

Healthcare, despite consistently strong employment reports, is also showing softness in job postings. Openings are down 8.4% year-over-year and remained suppressed throughout much of late 2025. 

The standout exception is manufacturing, which saw job openings increase 6.3% year-over-year, continuing a pattern of resilience driven by infrastructure investment and supply chain reconfiguration.

Precision and coordination rise as employers recalibrate expectations

One of the most revealing shifts this month is tied to skills. The fastest-growing skills appearing in U.S. job openings point to a workplace that’s becoming more complex, interconnected, and execution-focused. Employers are placing greater emphasis on attention to detail, coordination, and the ability to manage multiple tasks accurately.

In practical terms, that means companies are looking for people who can:

• Navigate ambiguity without dropping the ball
• Coordinate across teams and functions
• Execute consistently, not just creatively
• Balance speed with accuracy

These skills often show up in roles that require juggling systems, stakeholders, and workflows, whether that’s in operations, manufacturing, professional services, or technical environments.

What’s notable is that this shift spans job types. Even in roles traditionally defined by technical expertise, employers are increasingly prioritizing how work gets done, not just what someone knows.

This reflects a broader reality of today’s labor market: teams are leaner, responsibilities are broader, and mistakes are costlier. Employers want people who can operate with precision and collaborate effectively in high-stakes environments.

Smaller employers continue to pull back from hiring

Another important structural shift in the data is who is hiring. Eighteen months ago, organizations with fewer than 10 employees accounted for nearly 26% of all U.S. job openings. As of January 2026, that share has fallen below 20%. Employers with up to 599 employees have seen similar declines. In contrast, larger organizations are making up a growing share of total job postings.

This shift suggests that hiring is becoming more concentrated among companies with greater financial stability, stronger balance sheets, and more confidence in long-term planning. Smaller employers, facing tighter margins and higher uncertainty, appear to be delaying growth or leaning on flexible staffing models instead of opening new full-time roles.

At the same time, the pullback among smaller employers may increase demand for temporary, contract, or project-based talent as a lower-risk alternative to permanent headcount. That creates an opportunity for firms with strong contingent offerings and scalable delivery.

A market defined by selectivity, not stagnation

Taken together, January’s data paints a clear picture: the labor market is cautious, but it’s still moving. Hiring is becoming more selective. Employers are prioritizing roles tied directly to productivity, resilience, and operational execution. They’re seeking candidates who can manage complexity, collaborate effectively, and deliver consistent results. And they’re doing so primarily within organizations that have the scale and confidence to invest through uncertainty.

Recruiters who align with resilient industries, understand shifting skill priorities, and adapt to changing employer behavior will continue to find opportunity, even as headline numbers remain mixed.

Bullhorn Insights supports exactly this kind of strategy: helping firms see what’s changing now, not months later. Because in a market like this, clarity is a competitive advantage.

Explore the latest job market trends on Bullhorn Insights to stay grounded in the data shaping recruitment today and positioned for what comes next.