Job vacancies in the U.S. financial sector have fallen to 2012 levels, with a decrease of 92,000 jobs nationwide last month

According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for February, job vacancies in the U.S. financial and insurance sector fell to a 13-year low of 134,000 by the end of 2025, a 75% drop from the peak in 2022, and even lower than the bottom during the 2001 recession. Market commentary agency The Kobeissi Letter warned that the industry may be preparing for more layoffs.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an unexpected decrease of 92,000 jobs in February, but the financial activities sector saw a net increase of 10,000 positions, becoming one of the few bright spots. The information sector, transportation and warehousing, and the federal government each saw a reduction of about 11,000 to 10,000 jobs.

Analysts stated that a weakening job market could increase the probability of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates, potentially benefiting the cryptocurrency market, but the market's fragility may also trigger investors to shift to risk-averse strategies.