US Job Postings Rise 2.8% in a Year: Engineering and Health Care Lead
Indeed data shows US job postings up 2.8% on last year, with engineering, health care and data centre roles leading. Where job seekers should look now.
USAIn brief
- Indeed's US Job Postings Index stood at 103.8 on 16 October 2026, up 2.8% on a year earlier and almost 4% above pre-pandemic levels.
- 68% of occupation groups now have more postings than a year ago, up from 49% in early September.
- Engineering is the strongest area, with mechanical, civil and electrical engineering among the top five sectors.
- Data centre job postings are up 20% in three months and 147% above June 2024.
| Country | USA |
|---|---|
| Organization | Indeed Hiring Lab |
| Official source | Indeed Hiring Lab – US Labor Market Snapshot, October 2026 ✓ hiringlab.indeed.com |
US employers are posting more jobs than a year ago, and the gains are spreading to more types of work. That is the main message from Indeed Hiring Lab's October snapshot, published on 22 October 2026.
Indeed's Job Postings Index reached 103.8 on 16 October, which is 2.8% higher than a year earlier. Twelve months ago the index was falling by more than 8% a year, so the turnaround is clear.
Key numbers
| Indicator | Latest reading |
|---|---|
| Job Postings Index (16 Oct 2026) | 103.8 (Feb 2020 = 100) |
| Change on a year earlier | +2.8% |
| Occupation groups with more postings than last year | 68% (49% in early September) |
| AI-related share of all postings | 7.3% |
| Data centre postings, last three months | +20% |
| Posted wage growth (September) | 2.4% a year |
| Unemployment rate (September) | 4.2% |
Where the openings are
Indeed singles out engineering as the standout. Mechanical, civil and electrical engineering are three of the five strongest sectors in its index.
| Sector | Index level (approx.) | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | ~145 | Highest of the main groups |
| Health care | ~131 | Physicians, surgeons and therapy roles strong |
| Production and manufacturing | ~124 | Well above pre-pandemic |
| Human resources | ~99 | Around 2020 level |
| Software development | ~79 | Still below 2020 |
Data centres are a hot spot. Postings tied to them have jumped by a fifth in three months and are about two and a half times their mid-2024 level. Wages for electrical engineers advertised on Indeed are up 5.6% on a year ago, and IT systems roles are up 4.7%.
The catch
The market is better, not booming. There is about one opening per unemployed person, below the 2019 ratio. Advertised pay is rising more slowly than prices, and new postings have been moving sideways rather than climbing.
What it means for job seekers
- Aim at engineering and the trades around it. Electrical, mechanical and civil skills are in short supply, and pay is rising fastest there.
- Health care stays reliable. Clinical and therapy roles continue to post well above pre-pandemic levels.
- Look at data centres. Construction, electrical, cooling and operations roles at data centre sites are growing fast, even where general tech hiring is flat.
- Add AI skills to any CV. More than 7% of all postings now mention AI, a record share.
- Pure software roles are still tough. Pair coding skills with cloud, data or AI experience to stand out.
Factory hiring is part of this picture: see Hyundai Translead's 3,750 new jobs in Illinois and the latest official US jobs report.
Frequently asked questions
Are US job postings going up?
Yes. Indeed's index was 2.8% higher in mid-October 2026 than a year earlier.
Which jobs are most in demand in the US right now?
Engineering (mechanical, civil, electrical), health care roles such as physicians and therapists, production and manufacturing, and data centre work.
Are tech jobs recovering in the US?
Data centre and AI-related roles are growing fast, but software development postings remain below their early-2020 level.
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