February 2024 Jobs Report: Employers Add 275,000 Jobs
Robert Half
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that U.S. employers added 275,000 jobs in February, exceeding economists’ expectations of about 200,000 jobs.
The BLS also notes that employers added 167,000 fewer positions during December 2023 and January 2024 than previously reported.
Unemployment rate rises to 3.9%
The national unemployment rate was 3.9% in February, up from 3.7% in January. Prior to last month, the rate had held steady since November 2023.
The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older also increased slightly in February, rising to 2.2%. In January, the rate was 2.1%. These professionals are the most highly sought-after by employers.
Healthcare sector sees robust job growth in February
The BLS reports that employers in private education and health services added 85,000 jobs last month. The leisure and hospitality industry saw a significant rise in employment in February as well, with employers expanding payrolls by 58,000 jobs.
The following industries also reported notable job gains last month:
Additional data underscores employers’ ongoing hiring challenges
Job opening levels in the United States continue to trend above historic and pre-pandemic levels, signaling a pent-up demand for skilled talent.?Separate data from the BLS ?shows that there were 8.9 million job openings in the U.S. at the end of January. That figure is a slight decline from the 9 million job openings the BLS reported for December.?
In a recent Robert Half survey, 42% of employers said that the lack of candidates applying for open roles is one of their top hiring challenges. And well over half of the respondents (58%) reported that it’s taking longer for their organization to hire for open roles compared with one year ago.
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Our workplace research also indicates that while many professionals are carefully evaluating new opportunities, they are less likely to quit their current roles. Only 36% of workers we surveyed said they plan to look for a new job right now compared with 49% in mid-2023.
Stay current on hiring trends: Demand for Skilled Talent
Read the latest issue of Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report to get details on in-demand positions for several industries including finance and accounting, technology, legal, and administrative and customer support. Learn about U.S. hiring and employment trends in 2024, strategies to attract and retain top talent, and common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them.
View The Demand for Skilled Talent report now?on the Robert Half website .
Be right on the money with Robert Half’s 2024 Salary Guide
The 2024 Salary Guide From Robert Half features exclusive data and input from employers and workers, and from our recruiters who staff tens of thousands of jobs each year.?
Our guide is designed to be?a go-to resource ?on the latest hiring and compensation trends for both employers and job seekers. And you can view it right now, for free, on the Robert Half website.
Get even more insight into the current labor market
See this video featuring Robert Half Operational President Dawn Fay for further analysis of the February 2024 jobs report, along with tips for employers and job seekers.
Accounting, AP Clerk, AR duties, data entry - mid-level.
8 个月Open for work in Lake Forest CA - Don't need much, feel free to email me for my resume & jobs leads for accounting clerk. Thank you [email protected]
Founder and Principal | Executive Search & Consulting
8 个月Working in the healthcare sector, when these reports drop, I always think of the people in sectors where a job search can take six months, of people who can't afford to relocate for a better-paying position. These are great numbers, and the numbers at our firm are strong for Q1. However, we need to remember that not everyone is sharing in this good fortune.
Instructor at Kumon of Bloomfield, NJ
8 个月Love this!
Inside Sales Representative at Laird Plastics Philadelphia -Bloomsburg University Alumni
8 个月Hello, how can I get in touch with your company about potential employment opportunities?
Plant Controller
8 个月Great employment numbers, but in another survey 74% of the respondents said they are living paycheck to paycheck, and that includes six-figure earners. Most likely the driving factor is that inflation has not dropped to 3% as we’ve been told. And told. And told.