As pent-up demand for post-pandemic spending continues to fuel job growth, the pace of hiring has cooled significantly from the high-growth rates seen in 2021 and 2022. The average monthly number of jobs added by US employers has slipped below 100,000, well short of the rate needed to keep up with population growth.
Annual posted wage growth has stabilized for low-, middle- and high-paying jobs, and even rebounded slightly for some higher-wage sectors, suggesting that the overall labor market is shifting to a more balanced state. Nonetheless, many companies still have not yet fully returned to full pre-pandemic employment levels, which means that new hires may face longer wait times for onboarding and training.
In terms of specific jobs, frontline roles are expected to experience the largest absolute growth in new job openings in 2025, including Farmworkers, Delivery Drivers, Construction Workers and Salespersons. Other highly in-demand jobs include Nursing Professionals, Social Work and Counselling Professionals and Personal Care Aides. Tech jobs are the fastest growing in percentage terms, with positions like Big Data Specialists, AI and Machine Learning Engineers and Software Developers all in the top five.
The share of job postings that specify a degree or years’ experience requirement continued to decline in 2024, after rising sharply for several months. With hiring cooling and evolving work models continuing to shape the future of talent requirements, successful job seekers in 2025 will need strategic thinking, deep networks and focused search strategies.