• Job seekers who frequently use AI in their job search are more than twice as likely to receive a job offer as those who avoid it (76% vs. 33%).

• Educational attainment is the strongest predictor of AI adoption: 92% of graduate degree holders use AI in their job search, compared to 60% of high school graduates.

• Despite being more likely to hold college degrees, women are less likely than men to use AI across every application category, from resume drafting to interview prep.

• First-time job seekers are more AI-engaged than those with experience, but 42% worry "a great deal" that AI will devalue their skills—nearly double the rate of experienced job seekers (25%).

• Retirement levels are near historic lows, with an estimate of retirements sitting at 274,000—well below pre-pandemic norms.

• 66% of workers 60+ who haven't retired say income needs are keeping them on the job.

• 46% of the 60+ population says inflation has had some impact on their retirement plans.

• The median 60+ worker has saved $100,000 against a goal of $250,000.

• Inflation is the #1 fear among 60+ workers, cited by 63%—ahead of healthcare costs and outliving their savings.

• 14% of the workforce is 60 or older, nearly double the share from two decades ago

• Older workers have a median of 30 years of experience in their field.

• 61% of workers 60+ would stay one year or more in a reduced-hours wind-down role before fully retiring.

• 27% say they would stay five years or more if employers offered a phased, reduced workload arrangement.

Many workers 60+ expect never to fully retire—and most say money is the reason. 

• Over 4 in 10 workers 60+ say they'll never fully stop working—and 60% say it's because they can't afford to.

• The typical 60+ American has saved $100K toward a $250K goal, leaving them $150K short at the start of retirement.

Social Security is doing most of the heavy lifting in retirement 

• Nearly half (47%) of adults 60+ rely on Social Security as their primary income source. Among the fully retired, that rises to 71%.

Inflation, healthcare, and caregiving are reshaping retirement

• Inflation is the #1 retirement worry (62%), ahead of healthcare (59%) and outliving savings (42%).

• 30% of still-working adults 60+ stay employed to keep healthcare coverage. Another 42% stay employed to cover caregiving costs.

Phased retirement could help employers keep older workers longer

• 61% of workers 60+ would stay in the workforce longer if offered a phased retirement arrangement.

The latest data from our Q1 Job Seeker Confidence Survey and Q4 New Hire Survey highlights exactly how employers can stand out in a competitive market. To win the attention of top candidates, companies must focus on speed, clarity, and flexibility.

• Women’s employment is reaching a new peak as women become a larger share of nonfarm labor than men, and women’s labor force participation continues to improve. 

• But as AI becomes more central in the workplace, many women risk being left behind due to gaps in education and training. 

• More women are entering skilled trades as the labor market shifts, finding growth opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields.

More than a third of U.S. workers (35%) currently have a side hustle or hold multiple jobs, according to a recent ZipRecruiter survey, and the practice now cuts across nearly every corner of American working life. 

Younger workers are nearly twice as likely as those over 45 to have supplemental income. Veterans, union members, and high earners are all above average as well. But the motivations are far from one-size-fits-all. A side hustle can be a lifeline for those stretched by rising costs, an on-ramp for first-time job seekers facing barriers to traditional employment, or a ladder for those trying to move up faster. Understanding who has one, and why, reveals a workforce that is more financially creative and more financially pressured than employment figures alone suggest.

According to the Federal Reserve’s February Beige Book, businesses are integrating AI to augment output rather than replace jobs. It is tempting to link recent GDP growth, which has diverged from a softening labor market, to productivity gains from AI. Yet despite sensational headlines, AI’s real-world business impact remains limited. And the most important question may not be how AI affects productivity, but who benefits if and when it does. 

The current trajectory of the U.S. labor market reveals a striking reliance on a single sector for sustained growth. Over the past year, healthcare has accounted for approximately 69% of all national job gains. This concentration suggests that the industry is acting as a primary stabilizer for the broader economy, a role driven more by the structural needs of an aging population than by cyclical economic growth.

As demographic shifts continue to increase the demand for medical services, healthcare is positioned to be a permanent center of gravity for the American workforce. For workers navigating stagnation in other sectors or seeking to re-enter the market, this growth presents a strategic opportunity to pivot into a high-demand field.