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.
AI-Powered Job Seekers Are Twice as Likely to Land an Offer
The job search has a new dividing line: whether or not you're using AI. ZipRecruiter's Q1 2026 survey of job seekers shows a stark split in how AI-powered job seekers navigate their search compared with their more tech-averse counterparts.
ZipRecruiter’s Graduate Survey 2026
As the labor market has remained stalled for much of the last year, the entry-level job market is tightening. These roles are harder to find and more competitive right now than more senior positions. ZipRecruiter’s data shows that more job seekers are competing for entry-level positions, while fewer of the available jobs are actually entry-level. This means emerging talent faces more competition to get their foot in the door.
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.
The Healthcare pivot: Where workers can find opportunity amid a slow labor market
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.
ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey 2025 Q4
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.
Want a Summer Job? Here's What You Should Know
If you’re about to graduate from high school or college, or if you’re looking for a way back into the labor force, summer seasonal jobs may present an attractive opportunity. While many of these jobs offer modest pay, they can serve as a gateway to permanent employment.
The Return of Summer Internships
The summer of 2025 is on track to start with the largest young adult (ages 20-24) labor forces in the past decade. At the same time, young workers are facing the highest summer unemployment rate since the pandemic, making it more important than ever for young job seekers to gain experience and build skills before formally entering the workforce.
ZipRecruiter Graduate Survey 2025
ZipRecruiter’s recent study of U.S. employers found that 76% planned to expand headcount in 2025, with 53% anticipating modest increases and 23% expecting more significant growth. Will these plans shake out? And how will that translate to hiring for the newest class of labor market entrants?
The class of 2025 expects to find work quickly, and many are beginning their job search well ahead of graduation. Yet for those who already graduated, the job hunt has often proven more protracted, salaries lower than expected, and the transition to work more rigid than they had hoped.
Job Seekers Speak Out: Opinions on Nine Hot-Button Employment Issues
As the November presidential election approaches, the electorate is largely focused on economic issues, such as inflation, the budget deficit, and immigration. Former President Bill Clinton famously quipped, "It's about the economy, stupid," underscoring the central role economic issues play in American politics. But what do U.S. job seekers and workers really feel about the hot-button economic issues of the day?
Three Data-Driven Tips to Jumpstart Your Career
The question on many job seekers’ minds is how to get their careers off to the best start. Three key rules emerge from a decade of ZipRecruiter data and research and corroborating evidence from numerous outside studies.
ZipRecruiter Annual Graduate Survey 2023
The Covid pandemic hit during their Freshman year, upending everything from classes and college housing to sports and campus jobs. Now—having endured setbacks, adapted, and persevered—the Class of 2023 is about to graduate and enter the workforce.
Candidate Ghosting and Job Seeker Confidence
Candidate ghosting—that is, the practice of candidates cutting off communications with a potential employer at any stage in the recruiting process—peaked in May, according to self-reported behavior in the ZipRecruiter monthly Job Seeker Confidence survey.
ZipRecruiter Annual Graduate Report 2022
ZipRecruiter’s inaugural report, “The Class of 2022: The Job Market Outlook for Grads” reveals that today’s graduates are entering a very different job market. There are lots of rewarding opportunities open to them, and employers are rolling out the red carpet to attract them. However, it’s not all roses—in-person internships are scarce and more competitive than ever. And inflation is packing a punch.
This is What Job Seeker Bargaining Power Looks Like
Instead of asking workers to leave, employers are increasingly begging them to stay.