US job opening rose 0.1% month over month in February to 8.8 million after declining in December 2023 and January, according to seasonally adjusted data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Layoffs, however, rose by 8% month over month to more than 1.7 million and were at their highest level since March 2023. The number of quits also rose.

Overall, job openings remain down from their high of 12.2 million in March 2022, though they remain up compared to before the pandemic. CNN reported job openings were roughly in line with economists’ expectations.

Industries with the largest increases in job openings in February included finance and insurance, up 126,000; state and local government excluding education, up 91,000; and arts, entertainment and recreation, up 51,000. However, openings in information decreased by 85,000 and in federal government fell by 21,000.

Looking at layoffs, the number increased by 67,000 in accommodation and food services and increased in arts, entertainment and recreation by 57,000.

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This story was edited to correct the number of job openings to 8.8 million.