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
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%).
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.
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.
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.
This is What Job Seeker Bargaining Power Looks Like
Instead of asking workers to leave, employers are increasingly begging them to stay.