More Jobs, Higher Bar: The 2026 AI Employer Report
AI's introduction to the labor market got off to a rocky start, with speculation that it would be a massive job killer. The data tells a different story. Instead of cutting headcount to save money, companies are using AI to reshape their teams, speed up hiring processes, and raise the bar on what they expect from employees. AI adoption is ramping up, and so far, it looks like a net positive for job creation.
Unclogging the Pipeline: Why Aren’t More Workers Flocking to Lucrative Trade Jobs?
By nearly every measure, trade jobs offer stability, good compensation, and satisfaction in the American economy. And yet, the workforce pipeline feeding them is fragmented, informal, and increasingly strained.
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.
Retirement Realities
Many workers 60+ expect never to fully retire—and most say money is the reason.
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.
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.
ZipRecruiter’s New Hire Survey 2025 Q4
As 2025 ends, ZipRecruiter’s Q4 New Hire Survey shows job seekers are accepting a new job faster, even when it isn't their dream job, and in this slow hire environment they aren't regretting their speedy decision after the fact. Fast-paced job-hopping has been replaced by the cautious decision-making of job-hugging as stability beats rapid advancement. Though wage pressures have mounted and "dream jobs" are harder to come by, most new hires report satisfaction with their choices and are settling into roles with clear eyes and longer-term commitments.
ZipRecruiter Employer Survey 2025
The labor market has entered "The Great Freeze"–a period of unprecedented stagnation where turnover has plummeted and both employers and workers prioritize stability over movement. With strong hiring intentions, AI-driven transformation reshaping skill demands, and potential Fed rate cuts on the horizon, our research suggests that the thaw is coming.
ZipRecruiter’s New Hire Survey 2025 Q3
The latest findings from ZipRecruiter’s Q3 2025 New Hires Survey suggest that workers are getting more comfortable with the uncertainty in the labor market. To keep up with the slower flow of new jobs and hesitancy on both sides of the labor market that are driving “job hugging” behaviors, new hires appear to be taking a more cautious and strategic approach to their career moves.
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.
ZipRecruiter Annual Employer Survey 2024
The labor market is at a crossroads: turnover rates are unusually low, hybrid work has cemented itself as the dominant model, wages are climbing, and hiring optimism is high. Yet beneath the surface, stark divides remain across industries and between organizations large and small.
Pay Trends Amid Rising Pay Transparency
It is becoming standard practice for employers to publish salary information in job descriptions, but determining the right number to post remains challenging. Almost half of employers have reduced pay for certain roles over the past year, even as 4 in 10 say they are unable to fill vacancies at current wage levels.
The Top 10 Talent Acquisition Challenges of 2023
Top takeaway: Employers report that they’re still facing a tough labor market—talent acquisition teams report struggling to find suitable candidates, connect with them before it’s too late, stave off competition from other employers, recruit more diverse talent, navigate complex and poorly integrated technology systems, and keep pace with the latest industry advancements, including the emergence of generative AI.
Beyond Degrees: Rethinking Qualifications in the Skills-First Era
Employers are ditching degrees and embracing skills-based hiring—especially in the wake of skills shortages, post-pandemic college enrollment declines, and a widely acknowledged college affordability crisis.
Remote or RTO?: Employers and Workers Meet in the Middle
As employers explore different remote work and return to office policies, one thing remains clear—most U.S. companies are done with the five-day in-office work week.
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.
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.