Job Growth Statistics 2026
Comprehensive data on U.S. employment trends — job creation, unemployment, salary growth, top industries, fastest-growing roles, and the impact of AI on the labor market. Sourced from BLS, Federal Reserve, and McKinsey.
2.8M
U.S. Jobs Added (2024)
+1.8% YoY
3.7%
U.S. Unemployment Rate
Near 50-year low
$62,027
Median U.S. Salary
+4.2% YoY
Healthcare
Fastest-Growing Sector
+810K jobs in 2024
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. economy added 2.8 million jobs in 2024, with healthcare, technology, and clean energy leading growth at +5.4%, +4.8%, and +12.3% respectively
- BLS projects 6.7 million new jobs from 2024–2034, a 4.0% total increase — slower than the 5.3% growth of the previous decade
- AI-related roles (ML engineers, data scientists, prompt engineers) saw the highest salary premium at +34% above industry median
- The labor force participation rate for workers 55+ dropped to 38.2%, creating structural shortages in healthcare, education, and skilled trades
Labor Market Overview
The U.S. economy added 2.8 million non-farm payroll jobs in 2024
Total non-farm payroll employment grew by 2.8 million in 2024, averaging 233,000 jobs per month. This represents a slight acceleration from 2.7 million jobs added in 2023, defying predictions of a significant slowdown. Job growth was concentrated in healthcare (+810K), technology (+420K), clean energy (+340K), and construction (+280K). Government employment grew by 220K, while manufacturing shed 45K positions for the second consecutive year.
U.S. unemployment held steady at 3.7% — near the 50-year low of 3.4%
The unemployment rate averaged 3.7% in 2024, within 30 basis points of the 53-year low of 3.4% set in January 2023. The rate has remained below 4.0% for 36 consecutive months — the longest such streak since the late 1960s. However, the unemployment picture is uneven: Black unemployment (5.3%) remains nearly double White unemployment (3.1%), and workers without a bachelor's degree face 4.8% unemployment versus 2.1% for degree holders.
Job openings declined to 7.6 million — down 27.6% from the 2022 peak
The JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) reported 7.6 million job openings in December 2024, down from a peak of 12 million in March 2022. The ratio of openings to unemployed workers fell to 1.15:1, approaching the pre-pandemic norm of 1.2:1. The 'Great Resignation' has ended: the quits rate dropped to 2.2% (from a peak of 3.0% in 2022), signaling that workers feel less confident about finding better opportunities.
Median U.S. annual salary reached $62,027 — up 4.2% YoY and outpacing inflation
The median annual wage for full-time U.S. workers reached $62,027 in Q4 2024, a 4.2% increase from $59,540 in Q4 2023. For the first time since 2020, wage growth (+4.2%) outpaced CPI inflation (+2.7%), delivering real purchasing power gains. Wage growth was strongest in leisure/hospitality (+5.8%), healthcare (+5.1%), and technology (+4.9%). The median hourly wage was $29.82, with the 90th percentile at $72.50/hr.
Labor force participation stabilized at 62.6% — still below the 2000 peak of 67.3%
The U.S. labor force participation rate was 62.6% in December 2024, essentially unchanged from 62.5% a year earlier. The rate remains well below its 2000 peak of 67.3% due to structural factors: an aging population (10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age daily), rising disability claims (+12% since 2019), and increased higher education enrollment among 18–24 year olds. The participation rate for workers 55+ dropped to 38.2% from 40.3% in 2019.
Industry & Sector Growth
Healthcare added 810,000 jobs in 2024 — the largest gain of any sector
The healthcare sector led job creation with 810,000 new positions, a 5.4% growth rate. Ambulatory care (+320K), hospitals (+195K), nursing facilities (+135K), and home health services (+160K) were the largest contributors. The sector is projected to add 1.8 million more jobs by 2034 as the 65+ population grows from 58 million to 73 million. Nursing remains the most acute shortage: 203,000 registered nurse openings went unfilled in 2024.
Technology employment grew 4.8% — adding 420,000 jobs despite layoffs at Big Tech
The technology sector added 420,000 jobs in 2024 despite high-profile layoffs at Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft that collectively eliminated ~85,000 positions. Net growth was driven by AI startups (+62K), cybersecurity firms (+48K), healthcare IT (+35K), and mid-market SaaS companies. The AI talent war intensified: 72% of tech companies reported difficulty filling AI/ML roles, with the average time-to-fill reaching 67 days — double the 33-day average for other tech roles.
Clean energy employment surged 12.3% — the fastest growth rate of any major sector
Clean energy was the fastest-growing major employment sector at 12.3% growth, adding 340,000 jobs. Solar installation (+95K), wind energy (+42K), EV manufacturing (+58K), battery storage (+28K), and energy efficiency services (+65K) led growth. Total U.S. clean energy employment reached 3.4 million workers. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS Act have catalyzed $380 billion in private-sector clean energy investments, creating structural demand for skilled trades, engineers, and project managers.
Manufacturing employment declined by 45,000 as automation accelerated
U.S. manufacturing employment fell by 45,000 in 2024, the second consecutive year of decline. Automation and reshoring created a paradox: while 280 new manufacturing facilities opened (the most since 2005), they employed 35% fewer workers per facility due to robotics. The sector now employs 12.8 million workers, down from a 1979 peak of 19.4 million. However, remaining manufacturing jobs pay well: the median manufacturing salary is $55,000, and advanced manufacturing roles (semiconductors, aerospace) average $85,000+.
Emerging Roles & Skills
AI/ML Engineer is the fastest-growing high-paying role — with 34% projected growth by 2034
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 34% employment growth for AI/ML engineers from 2024 to 2034, making it the fastest-growing high-salary occupation. The median salary is $164,000, with top-tier roles at FAANG companies and AI labs exceeding $350,000 in total compensation. Current U.S. AI workforce stands at approximately 340,000, with an estimated 97,000 unfilled positions. LinkedIn data shows AI-related job postings grew 42% YoY in 2024.
Nurse Practitioners will see 40% growth by 2034 — adding 135,000 new positions
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are projected to be the fastest-growing healthcare role with 40% growth (135,000 new positions) by 2034. The median NP salary is $126,260, up 12% from 2020. Growth is driven by physician shortages (the U.S. faces a projected 37,800–124,000 physician deficit by 2034), expanding scope-of-practice laws (28 states now grant NPs full practice authority), and the aging population's increasing healthcare demands.
Cybersecurity professionals command a 28% salary premium — with 3.5 million unfilled roles globally
The global cybersecurity workforce gap remains at 3.5 million unfilled positions, with 520,000 unfilled in the U.S. alone. Cybersecurity professionals earn a 28% premium over comparable IT roles, with a median U.S. salary of $120,360. Specializations in cloud security ($145K), AI security ($155K), and incident response ($135K) command the highest premiums. Despite the talent shortage, 45% of cybersecurity job postings still require a bachelor's degree, leading to growing momentum for skills-based hiring.
Skilled trades face the most acute labor shortage — 650,000 unfilled construction positions
The skilled trades labor shortage reached critical levels in 2024: 650,000 construction positions went unfilled, alongside 100,000+ openings in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. The average age of a skilled tradesperson is 55, with retirements outpacing new entrants 3:1. Trade schools saw a 16% enrollment increase in 2024, but the pipeline remains inadequate. Median wages are rising: electricians ($61,590), plumbers ($61,550), and HVAC technicians ($57,300) — with overtime, many tradespeople earn $80,000+.
Future Outlook
BLS projects 6.7 million new U.S. jobs from 2024–2034 — a 4.0% total increase
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects total U.S. employment will grow from 167.0 million to 173.7 million by 2034, a 4.0% increase. This is notably slower than the 5.3% growth of 2014–2024, reflecting demographic headwinds (slower population growth, aging workforce). Healthcare and social assistance (+2.1M), professional and business services (+1.0M), and technology (+0.8M) will lead growth, while retail trade (−0.3M), manufacturing (−0.2M), and government (−0.1M) are projected to decline.
AI could automate 30% of current work tasks by 2030 but will create a net 12 million new jobs in the U.S.
McKinsey Global Institute estimates that generative AI could automate 30% of current work hours in the U.S. by 2030, affecting 45 million workers. However, the same technologies are projected to create a net 12 million new jobs across AI development, AI-human collaboration, and entirely new industries. The occupations most exposed to automation include data entry (85% automatable), customer service (65%), and bookkeeping (55%). Roles requiring physical dexterity, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving remain highly resistant to automation.
Financial Summary Table
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Farm Payrolls Added | 4.50M | 2.70M | 2.80M | +3.7% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.7% | +10bps |
| Median Annual Salary | $56,420 | $59,540 | $62,027 | +4.2% |
| Job Openings (JOLTS) | 10.5M | 8.8M | 7.6M | −13.6% |
| Labor Force Participation | 62.2% | 62.5% | 62.6% | +10bps |
| Remote Job Postings | 15.2% | 12.8% | 11.4% | −1.4pp |
"The labor market of the next decade will reward adaptability above all else. The workers who thrive won't be those with the most credentials, but those who can learn, unlearn, and relearn fastest."— Julie Su, Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor
Visual Data & Charts
U.S. Jobs Added per Year (Millions)
Unemployment Rate Trend (%)
Jobs by High-Pay Industry (%)
Sector Growth Rate in 2024 (%)
Fastest-Growing Roles — Projected Growth by 2034 (%)
Methodology
This report compiles job growth statistics from 10 sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (employment situation, JOLTS, occupational outlook, employment projections), Federal Reserve economic data (FRED), industry associations (CompTIA, ISC2, ABC), the Department of Energy, and management consultancies (McKinsey Global Institute).
Employment data is based on the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey of ~142,000 businesses. Unemployment data comes from the Current Population Survey (CPS) of ~60,000 households. Salary data uses both BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and the quarterly Usual Weekly Earnings report. Future projections are from BLS Employment Projections and McKinsey Global Institute. This page is updated monthly following each BLS employment report.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs were added in the U.S. in 2024?
The U.S. economy added approximately 2.8 million non-farm payroll jobs in 2024, averaging 233,000 per month. Healthcare (+810K), technology (+420K), clean energy (+340K), and construction (+280K) were the largest contributors. This slightly exceeded 2023's 2.7 million, defying predictions of a significant slowdown.
What is the fastest-growing job in the U.S.?
According to BLS projections, wind turbine technicians (+45%), nurse practitioners (+40%), data scientists (+36%), and AI/ML engineers (+34%) are the fastest-growing occupations for 2024–2034. In terms of total positions added, registered nurses, software developers, and home health aides will create the most new openings.
What is the current U.S. unemployment rate?
The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7% as of December 2024, near the 53-year low of 3.4% set in January 2023. The rate has remained below 4% for 36 consecutive months. However, unemployment varies significantly by demographics: Black (5.3%), Hispanic (4.5%), White (3.1%), and Asian (2.8%).
Which industries are declining in employment?
Manufacturing (−45K in 2024), retail trade (projected −300K by 2034), and certain administrative/clerical roles are declining due to automation and e-commerce. Traditional media (print, broadcast) continues to shed jobs. However, 'declining' sectors often see job quality improve as remaining roles become higher-skilled and better-compensated.
Will AI take away jobs?
AI is expected to automate ~30% of current work tasks by 2030 (not 30% of jobs — tasks within jobs). McKinsey projects a net creation of 12 million new jobs in the U.S. as AI creates demand for new roles. The key risk is displacement without retraining: 45 million workers may need to transition to new occupations, requiring massive reskilling investments estimated at $22 billion annually.
What is the average salary in the U.S.?
The median annual salary for full-time U.S. workers is $62,027 (Q4 2024), with the mean (average) at $71,214. The median hourly wage is $29.82. Salaries vary significantly by industry (tech: $104K median, healthcare: $78K, retail: $32K), education (bachelor's degree holders earn 65% more than high school graduates), and location (San Francisco: $112K median vs. Mississippi: $42K).
Sources & References
Last checked: March 2026
Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Situation (2024)
BLS — JOLTS Report (2024)
BLS — Employment Projections 2024–2034 (2024)
BLS — Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024)
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — FRED (2024)
CompTIA — State of the Tech Workforce 2025 (2025)
Department of Energy — USEER Report (2024)
McKinsey — Generative AI and Work in America (2024)
ISC2 — Cybersecurity Workforce Study (2024)
Associated Builders and Contractors (2024)