In a significant shift in the labor market, US employers have reduced their hiring plans over the past month. Concurrently, layoffs within the federal government have surged to their highest levels in more than four years, according to new data released on Tuesday. The latest findings from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reveal how President Donald Trump’s sweeping policies are reshaping the federal workforce and contributing to uncertainty in the broader economy.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the number of job openings fell to 7.57 million in February, a decrease from January’s figure of 7.76 million. This decline indicates a retreat in labor market demand as employers become increasingly cautious. Despite this drop in available positions, overall labor market turnover remained relatively stable in February, with the rates of hires, layoffs, and quits showing no significant changes.
However, the report noted a rise in layoffs, with estimates jumping from 1.67 million in January to 1.79 million in February. Notably, the federal government experienced a dramatic spike in layoffs, which surged to 22,000 compared to just 4,000 in the previous month. This marks the highest monthly total of federal layoffs since November 2020, underscoring the impact of recent policy changes.
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has been aggressively cutting jobs and reducing funding across federal agencies in recent weeks. This bold strategy has sparked concerns among economists, who warn that the anticipated labor market data for early 2025 may reflect a "calm before the storm." The rapid policy changes, particularly the significant workforce reductions in the federal sector, are expected to have a cascading effect on the private sector, potentially stifling growth across the entire US economy.
Elizabeth Renter, a senior economist at NerdWallet, commented on the situation, stating, “Federal layoffs are beginning to make their way into the data, and there’s more to come.” She emphasized that the current data reflects conditions from February when layoffs began to escalate. Renter added, “Employers were already hiring fewer people at the start of the year, and the increasing uncertainty in the economy will likely keep hiring at lower levels.”
Analysts at FactSet had anticipated a decline in job openings, projecting February’s numbers to drop to 7.625 million from 7.74 million. As this story develops, updates will be provided to reflect the ongoing changes in the labor market and their implications for the US economy.
