Only 28% of U.S. Job Postings Pay Enough to Raise One Child on a Single Income
Every working parent knows "the math.” You take a salary, subtract housing, subtract childcare, and pray there is enough left over to actually live on.
But over the last few years, the math has fundamentally broken. As the cost of the most basic necessities—housing and childcare—skyrockets, wages simply haven't kept pace. The result is that raising a family in the U.S. has become prohibitively expensive. And for women, who overwhelmingly bear the brunt of the financial and career compromises, the challenge is even steeper.
Summer Job Postings Surge 82%, Yet Many Young Workers Struggle to Get Hired
Looking for a summer job this year? The timing of a summer job search matters more than you might think. ZipRecruiter’s latest data shows that the best time to apply depends heavily on local weather and school calendars rather than a single national timeline.
May Jobs Report: Job Gains are Back, But Wages Aren’t Keeping Up
The May Employment Report confirms that the labor market is gaining traction. The economy added 172,000 jobs in May, unemployment held steady, and underemployment ticked down as more workers found the roles and hours they were looking for. Labor force participation remains low but stable. Taken together, the data suggest that energy is returning to a labor market that had been largely stagnant just in time for summer.
April Job Openings Surge to Near Two-Year High, But Hiring Pulls Back
Job openings surged to 7.6 million in April, the highest level in nearly two years, but hiring pulled back to a 3.2% rate. The gap between employer demand and actual hiring points to a widening skills mismatch — and structural forces like an aging workforce and reduced immigration mean it won't close quickly.
ZipRecruiter’s New Hire Survey 2026 Q2
The ZipRecruiter Q2 2026 New Hire Survey indicates that the workforce is navigating a slower labor market with careful consideration and intention. While the rapid job-hopping trend observed in the post-pandemic era has stabilized, newly hired workers continue to make strategic moves to enhance their daily work lives. The modern job search requires significant effort, endurance, and time; however, for candidates who are willing to invest that effort, the market is delivering positive results. On average, new hires submitted 16 applications, spent 5 weeks searching, and completed 5 interviews to secure 2 job offers before starting their new positions.
April Jobs Report: The Labor Market is Finding a New Normal
The April Employment Report shows a stabilizing trend, with 115,000 jobs added and unemployment holding at 4.3%. Declining labor force participation means fewer jobs are needed to maintain that rate. Excluding February's weather- and strike-related blip, the first four months of 2026 suggest the mid six figures may be the labor market's new normal.
March Job Openings Flat, but Hires Increase
The March Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported that while the level of job openings remained relatively unchanged, employer activity increased, as hires bumped up by 655,000 in March, taking the hires rate from the February slump of 3.1% back to 3.4%, matching the highest level since early 2024.
AI-Powered Job Seekers Are Twice as Likely to Land an Offer
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%).
Inflation Is Keeping Older Workers on the Clock
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.
The Retirement Cliff Is Coming, But Older Workers Are Ready to Help Businesses Land Safely
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.
Retirement Realities
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.
How Employers Win Top Talent in 2026
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.
March Jobs Report: Back on Track, But With Caution
The March Employment Report reversed course from the February dip, and posted a large gain: an increase of 178,000 jobs in March blew past expectations to the highest gain since December 2024. Unemployment ticked back down to 4.3% as labor force participation fell to 61.9%. While the headline numbers are stronger than expected, a peak under the hood presents a shrinking labor force and continued challenges for those looking for work.
Record-High Women’s Employment Meets the AI Stress Test
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.
February Job Openings Fall, Hires Lowest Since April 2020
The February Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported a decrease in job openings from revised January numbers. A mix of severe weather and healthcare strikes led to the lower than expected employment growth in February, and the lowest level and rate of hires since April 2020. Aside from the 2020 dip, the hires level has not been this low since 2014, when the labor market was still rebuilding after the Great Recession. While unemployment in today’s market remains low, the stall in hiring, coupled with a delay in retirement activity, is leading to a locked-out market for many new entrants.
ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey 2026 Q1
The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index grew by 2.9 points in the first quarter of 2026, landing at 99.8 – the highest it’s been since 2022. The Expectations Index took a large leap forward, with job seekers having much more positive expectations about the market than in the past several quarters, a positive sign as the labor market shows early signals of a turnaround.
More than a Third of Workers Have a Second Source of Income
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.
The Unproven Promise of AI
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.