Wholesale Trade
NAICS 42
The U.S. Wholesale Trade industry (NAICS 42) employed about 6,054.6 thousand workers as of Mar 2026, with 143,000 reported job openings, and a workplace injury rate of 5.9 per 100 workers (2022). Data: BLS CES, JOLTS, and SOII.
Industry Health Scorecard
A quick read combining employment momentum, hiring tightness, worker churn, and workplace safety.
Employment (12-mo)
-0.1%
Mar 2026
Openings per Hire
1.11
tight market
Quits ÷ Hires
51%
worker churn
Injury Rate
5.9
per 100 workers (2022)
Employment Trend (CES)
Monthly seasonally-adjusted employment from BLS CES.
| Date | Employment (thousands) |
|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 6,054.6 |
| Feb 2026 | 6,051.3 |
| Jan 2026 | 6,044.6 |
| Dec 2025 | 6,042.5 |
| Nov 2025 | 6,048.2 |
| Oct 2025 | 6,054.6 |
| Sep 2025 | 6,051.8 |
| Aug 2025 | 6,043.0 |
| Jul 2025 | 6,051.6 |
| Jun 2025 | 6,057.3 |
| May 2025 | 6,067.7 |
| Apr 2025 | 6,066.9 |
| Mar 2025 | 6,062.0 |
| Feb 2025 | 6,075.9 |
| Jan 2025 | 6,073.3 |
| Dec 2024 | 6,092.1 |
| Dec 2024 | 3,090.7 |
| Nov 2024 | 3,157.3 |
| Nov 2024 | 6,089.5 |
| Oct 2024 | 6,094.8 |
| Oct 2024 | 3,113.2 |
| Sep 2024 | 6,099.4 |
| Sep 2024 | 3,162.0 |
| Aug 2024 | 3,116.0 |
Job Openings & Labor Turnover (JOLTS)
Openings, hires, quits, and layoffs from BLS JOLTS.
| Date | Openings | Hires | Quits | Layoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 143,000 | 129,000 | 66,000 | 45,000 |
| Jan 2026 | 169,000 | 141,000 | 101,000 | 29,000 |
| Dec 2025 | 175,000 | 125,000 | 97,000 | 24,000 |
| Nov 2025 | 163,000 | 108,000 | 72,000 | 38,000 |
| Oct 2025 | 204,000 | 137,000 | 91,000 | 41,000 |
| Sep 2025 | 161,000 | 151,000 | 93,000 | 51,000 |
| Aug 2025 | 193,000 | 130,000 | 87,000 | 43,000 |
| Jul 2025 | 181,000 | 159,000 | 90,000 | 72,000 |
| Jun 2025 | 144,000 | 126,000 | 73,000 | 53,000 |
| May 2025 | 165,000 | 141,000 | 87,000 | 42,000 |
| Apr 2025 | 184,000 | 121,000 | 76,000 | 34,000 |
| Mar 2025 | 187,000 | 142,000 | 97,000 | 49,000 |
Workplace Injuries (SOII, 2022)
Recordable injuries and incidence rate (per 100 workers) from BLS SOII.
Total Recordable Cases
36,695
Days Away from Work
9,716
Incidence Rate
5.9
per 100 workers
Explore Wholesale Trade
Related Industries
Other industries within NAICS sector 42.
- Automobile and Other Motor Vehicle Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423110
- Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423120
- Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423130
- Motor Vehicle Parts (Used) Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423140
- Furniture Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423210
- Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423220
- Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423310
- Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423320
- Roofing, Siding, and Insulation Material Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423330
- Other Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423390
- Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423410
- Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423420