1. Insights

Job Searches Require More Effort Amid Hiring Slowdowns

While the labor market continues to be strong, a significant number of workers are finding that their job searches are taking more time and demand greater effort. According to our latest Job Seeker Survey , 63 percent of participants believe there is currently a hiring slowdown, marking a nine percent rise from our Fall 2023 survey. This observation corresponds with recent reports indicating that employers are now hiring less aggressively than in previous years. This hiring slowdown and other factors are creating more challenging searches for job seekers. 

A graphic that highlights the percentage of workers who feel employers have slowed down the hiring process: Fall 2023 – 54%  Spring 2024 – 59%  Fall 2024 – 63%

While job growth has remained steady over the last several months, job seekers are finding it more difficult to take advantage of the labor market. 68 percent of respondents indicated they are putting in more effort than they expected would be needed to land a job. This involves a greater commitment of hours dedicated to refining resumes and preparing for multiple rounds of interviews. 
Nearly 18 percent of those surveyed stated that they expect to complete 100 or more applications before being hired – an eight percent increase from our Fall 2023 Job Seeker Survey. 

 
A graph that highlights the percentage of workers who expect to apply to 100 or more jobs before being hired. 26% of respondents expect to complete 1 to 5 applications. 31% expect to complete up to 25 applications. 14% expect to complete up to 49 applications. 11% expect to complete up to 99 applications. 18% expect to complete 100 or more applications.

Additional Survey Takeaways

  • Read our Job Seeker Survey report on worker financial well-being  
  • 34 percent of job seekers feel their chances of finding a quality job are worse compared to last year
  • 45 percent of those surveyed said they are more likely to explore new job opportunities in 2025 compared to 2024
  • 56 percent of respondents indicated that the economy/job market is the most significant barrier or challenge to their current or most recent job search
     

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