The active hiring days of 2022 and 2023, when there were roughly two job openings for every job seeker, are now in the rearview mirror. But there are plenty of jobs available in 2025.
new Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Telegraphs maintained cautious optimism about an uptick in employment in the coming months. The Labor Department reported Friday that the economy added 256,000 jobs in December, beating expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%.
Although we are still early in the new year, business leaders’ confidence could translate into an increase in hiring in the coming months.
I reached out to a number of experts to get their insights on what all this means for job seekers and the best ways to navigate the hiring landscape.
“Getting a job today will likely be significantly more difficult and time-consuming than it was in 2022,” Corey Stahl, a labor economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, told Yahoo Finance. “But we are heading into a job market where there are still a lot of opportunities available.”
Workers in health care, construction, government and manufacturing are in high demand, while management jobs in finance and technology — such as software development, data science, marketing and professional services — are more difficult to come by, Stahl said.
There are also hot jobs debuting that you may not have thought of. Six out of 10 users are on LinkedInJobs on the rise“It showcases the evolving world of work and emerging opportunities that job seekers may not have previously considered.” The list tracks the fastest-growing positions.
Jobs include AI engineer, AI consultant, and physical therapist. Workforce development managers, who design and implement training programs to improve employee skills, are in high demand. Travel advisors are on the rise. Also participating in the sale were event coordinators, development managers who manage fundraising strategies, and sustainability specialists, who analyze a company’s environmental and social impacts and develop resource efficiency strategies.
Several engineering roles appeared for the first time on the list, including bridge engineer, nuclear engineer, and instrumentation and control engineer
As a bookworm and research nerd, I was thrilled to discover that research librarians are back in vogue.
“Only about 30% of job seekers say they want to change industries, but more than 50% of newly hired workers got their job in a new industry,” Julia Pollack, chief economist at job search site ZipRecruiter, told Yahoo Finance. “This suggests that workers who keep an open mind, broaden their research, invest in new skills, and seize opportunities are disproportionately successful.”
Some of the most in-demand skills, according to LinkedIn research: customer service, project management, communication, leadership, teamwork, sales, and strategic planning.
For AI enthusiasts, the tide is moving in your direction.
“We’re starting to see an increasing number of employers requesting integrative AI skills,” said Indeed’s Stahle. “If you have these AI skills, 2025 could be a good year for you.”
“Transferable skills can open doors to new roles as well,” Amy Glaser, senior vice president at staffing agency Adecco, told Yahoo Finance. Time opportunities.
“Overall, adaptability and a willingness to learn are critical for workers looking to thrive in today’s multigenerational workforce.”
An increasing number of employers are dropping education and even experience requirements in job ads, according to Stahl — “which means there are roles that you weren’t qualified for in the past, and now maybe you can qualify because you have the skills and experience.” “It is possible that he will hold one of these positions.”
Formal educational requirements have decreased in almost every sector and occupational group Analyzed By actually. The share of job openings requiring at least a bachelor’s degree fell to 17.6% in October 2024, from about 20% before the pandemic.
“This may seem like a modest decrease on the surface, but in reality it represents tens of thousands of additional jobs potentially available today compared to a few years ago for the more than 60% of Americans who do not have a college degree,” Stahl said.
Other reports show a similar shift. One in three organizations have removed degree requirements from job descriptions to consider all applicants with the necessary skills and experience, according to the British Daily Mail. Salary scale. Before you get too excited, a segment of these employers, 16%, Pay more To those who hold a bachelor’s degree.
The trend in experience requirements has also decreased, from 40% in 2022 to 32.6% in 2024, according to Indeed. If the labor market rebounds in 2025, the share of job openings that require a college degree or certain years of experience could decline again as employers compete for workers, Stahli said.
Online job advertisements continue to attract an abundance of applications. To cut through the clutter, it will be important this year for job seekers to “show off their personality and personal brand to grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers,” says job seeker Hannah Morgan. strategicYahoo Finance said.
“Generic AI-generated resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles will not be enough to differentiate among job seekers,” she said, adding that “many recruiters and hiring managers are looking for AI-generated materials.”
Deciding how much personality to convey can be difficult, she said. Start by including any business details that highlight your accomplishments, certifications, or awards. “Draw attention to what makes you a little different and mention why that is important to a future employer,” she said.
Have a great example in your back pocket to share with hiring managers of the challenge, your work, and the result you achieved. I call this your car story. Hiring managers love numbers to back this up.
“Use real, measurable data to highlight business accomplishments,” Morgan said. Replace, for example, “Top producer is self-motivated and consistently exceeds goals by retaining and growing existing accounts using a consultative approach” with a specific example like “Exceeded sales goals by 125%, generating $800,000 in quarterly sales through relationship building and analytics.” “Decision making is driven,” she said.
Getting a job the old-fashioned way is still popular.
Most full-time positions are filled internally or through referrals. Referred candidates are hired at a rate of 30%, while job applicants obtained through other methods are hired at a rate of only 7%, according to one study. reconnaissance By Jobvit.
Employers want to hire people they know directly or indirectly because it is less risky. Hiring managers’ perception that someone will be a good fit increases dramatically when an insider gives them the nod. Many employers offer a bonus for referring someone who has been hired and is doing well.
“Consider reaching out to people you know within the company and tell them why you are interested in opening at their company and ask them if they can refer you,” Morgan said. “The key is to make more of an effort than just group submission.”
Referrals may come from your existing network, but you don’t want to reach out just when you need something, Maggie Mistal, A Career change coachYahoo Finance said.
“Make it a point to regularly connect with your favorite peers and colleagues. Check in, share an article, recommend an event or even refer them for a job opportunity,” she said. Giving when you don’t need something will make it easier to ask when you do need something.
If this is a new connection and you’re asking for a helping hand from, say, someone who knows someone you know who works for an employer in a job you aspire to, tread lightly.
“When you reach out to new colleagues for a referral, it also helps to compliment them on something you really like about their experience,” Mistal said. “Noticing that they climbed a mountain or speak three languages or grew up in the same area of the country…all of these things indicate a real connection, and that builds the relationship.”
“And if you want someone to refer you for a job down the road, you’ll need to start building the relationship.”
Do you have a question about retirement? Personal finances? Anything career related? Click here to drop a note by Kerry Hannon.
If you’re planning to look for a new job, it’s a good idea to think about your past experiences and turn them into stories.
said Peter Dorris, CEO and co-founder of AI-based recruiting tool Kickresume More than half Companies ask candidates to share their stories about their previous roles.
It’s not just about the times you hit the jackpot: about a quarter of companies also ask questions about mistakes or moments when candidates felt like they failed.
“Demonstrating self-awareness and accountability while highlighting your problem-solving skills can really help you get the job you want,” Doris said.
Another interview tip: Show your love for the company on your sleeve.
Many companies ask candidates to name their favorite thing about the company, what specifically interests them about joining the company, or their favorite of its products.
Google asked interviewees: “What’s your favorite Google product? Why? How could you improve it?”
Kerry Hannon is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and author of 14 books, including “In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work and “You’ve never been rich.” Follow her Bluesky.
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