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. 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.
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.
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.