Job Market BLOG

SUMMARY: The U.S. job market is showing mixed signals: hiring remains resilient in some sectors, but layoffs are accelerating across major industries. For job seekers, opportunities remain strongest in healthcare, social assistance, and food services, while those in tech and manufacturing should expect more turbulence.

DETAILS: The September jobs report, released late due to the government shutdown, showed that the U.S. labor market is split between growth in service-oriented sectors and contraction in tech, manufacturing, and logistics. There were 119,000 jobs added in health care, food services, and social assistance, highlighting ongoing demand in people-focused industries. However, manufacturing (-6,000 jobs) and transportation/warehousing (-25,300 jobs) shed workers, underscoring structural weaknesses.

Job postings remain 3.4% above pre-pandemic levels and grew 1.3% month-over-month as of mid-November. Remote roles account for about 8.2% of postings, showing steady demand for flexible work.