Release
Hiring and Attrition — February 2026
Release Date: March 5, 2026
Summary
While the hiring rate continued to tick downward in February, attrition remained steady, leading to the decrease in net job creation. Some of the larger month-on-month slowdowns in hiring were seen in Public Administration, and Mining, Quarrying & Oil, and Professional and Business Services. Overall, the US labor market remains close to stall speed when it comes to hiring new workers.
Hiring rates by sector
Hiring rates by sector for December 2025, January 2026, and February 2026, including year-over-year and month-over-month changes.
Sector | December 2025 | January 2026 | February 2026 | YoY change (pp) (Feb 25–Feb 26) | MoM change (pp) (Jan 26–Feb 26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total US | 21.8% | 21.8% | 21.7% | -1.2 pp | -0.2 pp |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 21.3% | 21.2% | 21.6% | -2.1 pp | +0.5 pp |
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 20.5% | 20.7% | 20.1% | -1.4 pp | -0.7 pp |
Utilities | 29.4% | 29.4% | 29.5% | -1.2 pp | +0.1 pp |
Construction | 19.7% | 19.9% | 21.4% | +0.0 pp | +1.5 pp |
Manufacturing | 24.9% | 25.0% | 25.2% | -0.7 pp | +0.2 pp |
Wholesale Trade | 18.7% | 18.7% | 19.5% | -0.2 pp | +0.8 pp |
Retail Trade | 16.3% | 15.9% | 15.6% | -2.0 pp | -0.3 pp |
Transportation and Warehousing | 20.0% | 19.9% | 19.5% | -1.8 pp | -0.4 pp |
Information | 38.6% | 39.0% | 39.9% | +0.5 pp | +0.9 pp |
Financial Activities | 29.2% | 29.5% | 29.7% | -0.1 pp | +0.2 pp |
Professional and Business Services | 24.9% | 25.2% | 24.6% | -1.3 pp | -0.6 pp |
Educational Services | 29.1% | 29.9% | 23.4% | -4.7 pp | -6.5 pp |
Health Care and Social Assistance | 21.5% | 21.4% | 21.4% | -1.5 pp | +0.0 pp |
Leisure and Hospitality | 18.9% | 18.8% | 19.7% | -1.1 pp | +1.0 pp |
Other Services (except Public Administration) | 24.0% | 24.1% | 23.0% | -2.0 pp | -1.1 pp |
Public Administration | 18.0% | 17.9% | 17.0% | -1.5 pp | -0.9 pp |
Unclassified | 38.4% | 38.0% | 51.3% | +8.1 pp | +13.3 pp |
Attrition rates by sector
Attrition rates by sector for December 2025, January 2026, and February 2026, including year-over-year and month-over-month changes.
Sector | December 2025 | January 2026 | February 2026 | YoY change (pp) (Feb 25–Feb 26) | MoM change (pp) (Jan 26–Feb 26) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total US | 22.1% | 22.1% | 22.1% | -0.7 pp | +0.0 pp |
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 25.3% | 24.3% | 23.8% | -0.2 pp | -0.4 pp |
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 23.1% | 23.2% | 23.4% | +0.3 pp | +0.2 pp |
Utilities | 26.8% | 26.7% | 26.5% | -2.1 pp | -0.2 pp |
Construction | 19.3% | 19.4% | 19.4% | -0.7 pp | +0.0 pp |
Manufacturing | 25.3% | 25.4% | 25.5% | -0.8 pp | +0.1 pp |
Wholesale Trade | 19.4% | 19.4% | 19.4% | -0.5 pp | -0.0 pp |
Retail Trade | 18.4% | 18.7% | 19.1% | -0.3 pp | +0.4 pp |
Transportation and Warehousing | 20.2% | 20.3% | 20.4% | -1.7 pp | +0.1 pp |
Information | 39.1% | 39.4% | 39.5% | -0.4 pp | +0.1 pp |
Financial Activities | 28.1% | 28.3% | 28.3% | -0.6 pp | -0.1 pp |
Professional and Business Services | 24.3% | 24.5% | 24.3% | -1.0 pp | -0.1 pp |
Educational Services | 26.6% | 27.2% | 26.6% | -0.7 pp | -0.6 pp |
Health Care and Social Assistance | 20.3% | 20.2% | 20.2% | -1.3 pp | -0.0 pp |
Leisure and Hospitality | 21.6% | 21.5% | 21.6% | -0.0 pp | +0.1 pp |
Other Services (except Public Administration) | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.7% | -0.9 pp | -0.2 pp |
Public Administration | 17.6% | 17.4% | 17.4% | -0.7 pp | -0.1 pp |
Unclassified | 109.9% | 107.0% | 109.6% | +21.4 pp | +2.6 pp |
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