Q1 2025 US Jobs Report

U.S. OVERVIEW

This quarter, job vacancies rose by a sharp 7.7%, approximately 459,000 additional listings between

January 6 and March 3. This growth marks a renewed expansion in the labor market following a

contraction towards the end of 2024, which itself came after a year of little change. Compared to one

year prior, vacancies have declined 0.7%. In the sections that follow, we’ll break down total vacancy

trends in the U.S. generally, by geography, and job categories.

The Vision Lab: Amanda Shaker & John Graham Jr. on Bold Employer Branding Strategies

Earlier this year, Shaker's VP of Employer Brand Strategy, Humanity, and Culture, John Graham Jr., and Chief Creative Officer, Amanda Shaker, sat down in The Vision Lab at Shaker HQ to dive into what boldness looks like in today’s talent landscape, and why it’s more than just a buzzword. Together, they explore:

• The difference between recruitment marketing and employer brand (yes, there’s a difference)
• Why inaction is riskier than ever
• How storytelling builds trust with candidates
• The role of employee advocacy in shaping authentic brand narratives
• Where DEI strategy intersects with employer brand
• And how technology should support and enhance human connection

Watch for an engaging conversation that will inspire you to take your next bold step!

Let’s Cut Through Complexity: Find the Right Recruitment Marketing Tech for You

In today's crowded landscape of HR and recruitment marketing technology (Martech), talent leaders are bombarded with promises of smarter, faster, more efficient hiring solutions. From AI-driven sourcing platforms to automated engagement tools, it’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing innovation for innovation’s sake. But as Shaker’s Sara Elkins Hartmann points out, more tech doesn’t always mean better hiring. 

That’s why we take a different approach, one rooted in clarity, strategy, and personalization. We don’t just know what’s new; we help our clients understand what’s right for them. Because in the end, tech should do what it's designed to do: empower you to lead with confidence. Read our latest blog for more insights!

Webinar: Workforce Transformation Master Class

Every organization must transform its workforce for future readiness, whether proactively driving change or responding to external pressures. 

TalentNeuron helps organizations reimagine their workforce from end to end, combining data and insights to support every stage of the journey. One of the biggest challenges we hear from clients is knowing how to get started in a way that is strategic, practical, and aligned with business goals. 

In this interactive session, we walk you through a proprietary diagnostic designed to assess your organization's readiness for change and development. You will learn how to identify your biggest strengths and opportunity areas, and how to begin prioritizing initiatives that deliver real results.

E-Book: Drive Better Outcomes with HR Data

Data's value in everyday decision-making is undeniable. Research shows more than 70% of HR leaders consider data analytics critical to their HR strategies.

So why aren't more organizations adopting comprehensive people analytics?

Download this guide to learn more about people analytics, including:

Rising demand: HR is evolving to become a more data-centric partner within businesses. 

Business benefits: Make better hiring decisions, address skill gaps, optimize workforce planning, and more.

Implementation challenges: Issues and solutions for tackling them when rolling out people analytics at your company.

Getting started: Three ways TalentNeuron can enable data-powered decision-making.

Eightfold Talent Table: Where HR’s top minds get together to discuss talent

Join us every month for a roundtable discussion with today’s top HR leaders. They’ll tackle the toughest HR challenges head-on with real strategies and advice that works. No topic is too difficult for our talent pros. From hiring hard-to-find talent, retaining top employees, to upskilling their workforces, our leaders are ready to discuss the top challenges facing the HR industry today. Get ready to transform your talent strategies with Talent Table.

Agentic AI in HR

The age of agentic AI is here, but not all “agents” are equal. Beneath the buzz, the way enterprise AI solutions are built and deployed can determine whether you’re investing in true agentic AI or just buying into hype.

True agentic AI replicates the subtle, often invisible cognitive work that people constantly perform, such as shifting context mid-task, drawing connections between unrelated inputs, and rerouting plans in real time.

Without those capabilities, an “agent” is just prepackaged scripts dressed in hype — a false agent.

In this guide, you’ll learn more about this next-generation artificial intelligence.

Smarter, Faster, Better…12twenty’s Next Gen of Early-Career Recruiting Technology - A Product Preview

This webinar offers a guided preview of 12twenty’s Hiring Cloud—an all-in-one platform for early-career recruiting. Learn how employers can post jobs to 1,600+ schools in one click, match with qualified student talent using AI, and access real-time analytics and compensation benchmarking.

The session covers key tools for streamlining job postings, hosting virtual events, and enhancing employer branding through customizable profiles and targeted outreach.

Ideal for: Recruiters and talent teams hiring interns, entry-level, or campus candidates.

2025 Recruitment Marketplaces Report

One thing is for certain: The future is uncertain.

How’s that for nutshelling?

We sent our human, not AI, analysts out to conduct dozens of interviews with CEOs and corporate executives. Spent hundreds of hours researching traffic, revenue and new products at job boards / recruitment marketplaces worldwide.

• Trends: All there. AI, referrals, pay-for-performance
• Top 50: Traffic
• Top 25: Revenue
• Top 15: Freelance
• Top 3 from A to Z: The leaders in 68 countries, from Argentina to Zimbabwe

Check out the preview today! Ready to purchase the full report? CXR readers save 10% with code CXR10

Why Your TA Tech Stack Can’t Be a House of Cards

Is your TA tech stack built to last—or one tool away from collapse? Get the insights you need to future-proof your hiring with a platform that won’t crack under pressure.

Ask these questions before investing in any AI promises from vendors.

Cut through the noise of inflated AI promises with this free, community-built guide. The CXR AI Vendor Evaluation Guide (v2.1) arms talent acquisition teams with RFI/RFP questions to help evaluate any vendor making AI claims. With both Core and Advanced sections, the guide covers critical topics like data sourcing, model bias, compliance, human oversight, and scalability. Whether you're starting early diligence or negotiating contracts, this no-fluff resource - developed in collaboration with TA leaders and solution providers - helps legal, IT, and recruiting teams ask the right questions. No attribution or license required.

2024 U.S. Jobs Report

A Look Back at the Jobs Market in 2024

Welcome to the 2024 U.S. Jobs Report, our second full-year report.

Total job listings were lower in 2024 than in 2023, marking a second consecutive year of decline. It’s

worth noting, though, that 2022 was a remarkable year for job listings, as the Great Resignation was

in full swing and employees were leaving jobs confident that they could find something better.

The tide has since turned. And while the labor economy is healthy overall (inflation and interest rates

are down from the start of the year, with unemployment hovering right around 4 percent), employers

and those in recruitment tech have many questions about the future.

Here’s a look at what happened in 2024 and what it tells us about what's to come.

Speaking Hard Truths: What Does Best Practice Look Like For Disclosing Conflicts of Interest in TA?

Clear definitions, policies, and procedures are critical for promoting transparency and trust in talent acquisition. TA leaders share practical solutions for identifying and managing potential conflicts in this second installment of our two-part Conflicts of Interest series.

Jardeg - Doubled Applicant Volume With a Painless Integration

“JobSync’s solution has turbocharged our ability to grow into the largest construction recruitment brand in western Canada.”

Graham Arnett
Workforce Recruitment Manager, Jardeg

Compass Group - 115% More Applicants, 33% Reduction in Advertising Cost per Hire, Zero Business Disruption

“We have reached the pinnacle of ROI”

– Shay Johnson, VP, Strategic HR Partnerships at Compass Group USA

Rosendin - Reducing Cost Per Hire by 89%, While Generating a 2X Increase in Candidate Volume

“After implementing the programmatic job posting, JobSync came in and doubled applications, along with an 89% reduction in our CPA”

– Michael Chonko, Talent Acquisition Director at Rosendin Electric

Davey Tree - Increase Applicant Volume & Stay Compliant

“JobSync solved three problems at once for The Davey Tree Expert Company: increased candidate volume, improved candidate experience, and improved OFCCP compliance.”

Brigitte Orrick
Director of Recruiting and Employee Development, The Davey Tree Expert Company

Allied Universal - Meet Hiring Goals in Key Markets with Increased Applications

“JobSync was a game changer for Allied. By solving our candidate volume needs, we were able to focus on our next-level candidate experience challenges. We now talk about our world in terms of before and after JobSync.”

Donna Singer
National Director of Recruiting Enablement at Allied Universal

Be Bold in Branding...And Here's How

In an ever-evolving talent landscape shaped by emerging technology, economic shifts, and changing candidate expectations, boldness has become a necessity. But how does that translate to Employer Branding? In this article, three of Shaker Recruitment Marketing’s thought leaders - Amanda Shaker, Chief Creative Officer; Shavon Banket, Sr. Director of Strategic Content; and John Graham Jr., VP of Employer Brand Strategy, Humanity & Culture - explore what it means to be bold and how organizations can embrace boldness to attract and retain top talent.

Customer Videos!

Here are some amazing videos from our clients! 

Exclusive Beta Access: Be Among the First to Experience Match2

Gain early access to Match2 and be at the forefront of a hiring revolution. As a beta participant, you'll get hands-on experience with our cutting-edge AI-driven talent engagement platform—designed to make hiring smarter, faster, and more personalized. Streamline your recruitment process, reduce friction for job seekers, and create a seamless candidate experience that strengthens your employer brand. 

By optimizing how talent connects with opportunities, you’ll not only improve efficiency but also boost candidate satisfaction, brand loyalty, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). Don’t just keep up with hiring trends—help shape them. Apply for exclusive beta access today!

2024 Global Marketplaces Report

Transactions are the future of marketplaces. Is your business positioned to dominate? Check out what your competition may be up to (though you should probably already know) and what strategies you may want to consider.

GenAI remains at the front of the trends – but not in our report! It’s almost exclusively generated by our (human) global team of writers, analysts, data geeks and designers. And an AI-generated poem.

Inside the 130 + page report, you’ll find:

• Strategies and tactics of some of the most interesting and largest general marketplaces in the world
• Companies to watch
• Marketplace groups by revenue: The world’s Top 65
• Top 50 list identifies the largest general marketplace and classified sites worldwide
• The leading general marketplaces / classified companies in 67 countries
• And much more

Data Driven Candidate Experience Survey Maturity Model Download

This free four stage model was constructed to guide organizations in how to best incorporate feedback into their talent acquisition process. The Data Driven Candidate Experience Maturity Model provides a capability map that will enable organizations to provide repeatable, data driven experiences to candidates that can:

• Increase Candidate Satisfaction
• Optimize Talent Acquisition People, Processes and Technologies
• Improve Quality of Hire
• Strengthen Employer Brand
• Align Organizations Around Common Recruiting Metrics

Top Recruiting Trends for Healthcare in 2025

As the new year begins, new challenges emerge. Can healthcare hiring teams embrace new technologies? Will the demand in the sector hold up even as the labor market as a whole weakens, and will the focus shift from the all-important registered nurse position to something new? Let’s explore the trends that will shape healthcare recruiting in 2025.  

Talent survey: HR misalignment costs you more than you think - here’s why it matters

This research, conducted by 3Sixty Insights in collaboration with Eightfold AI, explores the misalignment between HR leaders and business strategies and the short-term and long-term issues that result from it.

We partnered with 3Sixty Insights to deploy two surveys:

• An HR Leader Survey taken by 500 HR leaders, VP level and above, at companies with 5000+ employees across six countries.
• An Employee Survey including/covering 1200 respondents who are employed full or part-time across six countries.

Our findings show a high recurrence (82%) of misalignment in businesses where HR departments are not in lockstep with the overall business. This was exemplified primarily in three areas:

• Business strategy development and execution - Only 53% of HR leaders report involvement from the outset in developing and executing their company’s overall business strategy.
• C-suite collaboration - 47% of HR leaders report that their HR department is absent from regular collaboration with the C-suite on long-term strategic initiatives.
• Talent strategy - 56% say their talent strategies do not align with the overall business objectives.

Only 18% of the leaders surveyed execute all three of the above strategy areas effectively. This has downstream effects on the efficacy of talent strategy, the HR organization, and general business needs.

With 69% of respondents to the Leader Survey concerned about their ability to keep up with their company’s rapid changes and the ever-evolving HR needs of their employees, this number will only continue to grow the longer HR remains misaligned.

This report will outline how leaders can solve these problems by aligning HR goals with business goals and prioritizing understanding skills and capabilities to overcome internal and external staffing challenges. We will examine how those who encourage internal mobility, reskilling, redeployment, retention, and employee growth have higher employee satisfaction. The report also looks at the use of AI and technology in HR practices and the positive changes harnessing AI can bolster. This report shows how companies making strategic investments in technology enhance and transform their ability to meet future needs, achieve business goals, and streamline their tech stack.

Talent-centered design: How to build an agile and flexible workforce to deliver the results you need

Change requires a deeper understanding of talent in the context of work. Right now, we are faced with choosing a path for the future at the intersection of business, digital, and talent reinvention.

Unfortunately, too many of us are still using systems, processes, and procedures to manage talent that were built for a world of work drastically different from the one we are facing today.

We need to think beyond process and talent optimization and embrace transformation through skills-based strategies. We need to gain a dynamic understanding of skills mapped to talent in the context of work.

This is an approach that can only be realized through an AI-native Talent Intelligence Platform built using talent-centered design.

In this mini e-book on talent-centered design you will learn:

• Why skills are the key to unlocking your workforce’s potential.
• How AI-native talent intelligence gives you a dynamic, real-time understanding of your workforce and their skills.
• Why pairing people with work based on their skills sets them up for success — and helps your business thrive.

The new talent code to drive organizational success

Today’s conditions are the most challenging in decades, and yesterday’s talent practices aren’t enough. Most HR tech stacks aren’t up to the task of surfacing real-time data and skills insights to inform talent decisions. And they don’t deliver the best experiences — or results — for candidates, employees, HR teams, hiring managers, and business leaders.

To build a world-class organization with the right skills for the future, you must understand what skills employees have today, and what they could learn given the right training and career opportunities.

You must use new solutions to gain a complete understanding of your entire talent ecosystem to drive organizational success. Welcome to the new talent code.

Read this e-book to learn how to:

• Harness AI-powered talent intelligence to recruit top talent faster and enhance employees’ careers
• Deliver a streamlined and improved candidate experience, giving them a faster, smoother, and more transparent hiring experience
• Discover ways to find alternative talent to fill the skills gaps, including contingent workers and project staffing
• Improve DEI and equity with talent intelligence that mitigates the potential for bias

The Relationship Between Recruitment Marketing & Employer Branding

In today’s competitive talent landscape, aligning recruitment marketing (RM) and employer branding (EB) is more than a best practice—it’s a strategic advantage. Though distinct, these disciplines are deeply interconnected. When synchronized, they drive immediate recruitment success while strengthening long-term brand equity.

This in-depth study, backed by insights from leading talent acquisition experts and industry panelists, explores how organizations can effectively merge RM and EB strategies to attract talent that truly aligns with their mission and values.

Download the full report to discover actionable insights that can transform your hiring strategy.

2025 Dice Tech Salary Report

Explore two decades of tech salary evolution in the 2025 Dice Tech Salary Report, celebrating its 20th anniversary. From how AI expertise earns nearly 18% more to why nearly half of tech professionals are job hunting, this data-packed report uncovers salary trends, hiring insights, and what’s next for the industry.

Research Summary- Video Impact on Recruiting Efficiency

A comprehensive 2024 study of nearly 10,000 candidates reveals how hiring manager videos transform recruiting efficiency. When candidates view a hiring manager video, they spend more than twice as long learning about the role, leading to better self-selection and higher quality applicants. The research, conducted across the US and Canada, shows that video doesn't just improve candidate quality—it reduces unproductive work throughout the recruiting funnel. For talent acquisition teams facing budget and headcount pressures, hiring manager video offers a proven way to drive better results with fewer resources.

Want to see the specific metrics? Let's talk!

Research Study- Video Impact on Recruiting

A comprehensive 2024 study of nearly 10,000  candidates reveals significant gains when companies add simple hiring manager videos to their job descriptions. The research, conducted across the US and Canada, demonstrates that video-enhanced recruiting doesn't just improve candidate quality—it dramatically reduces the amount of outreach needed while boosting conversion rates at every stage of the funnel.

Want to cut your sourcing efforts while attracting better candidates? Download the full study to see the specific metrics and learn how video can transform your recruiting ROI...

Scaling at speed to ensure spin-off success

Find out how a strategic sourcing strategy helped one of the world’s largest biotech and pharmaceutical companies scale at speed and secure spin-off success.

About Wilson

The rapidly changing business landscape and critical skills shortages are making it increasingly difficult for organizations to find the right people at the right time. But Wilson can help. We deliver high-achieving, diverse talent at speed and scale to drive workforce success and boost bottom line.

Beyond the buzz: Skills-based hiring is the way forward

With 81% of companies turning to skills-based hiring, this shift is transforming how we attract, engage and retain top talent. Moving beyond degrees and job titles, a skills-first approach builds stronger, more adaptable teams.

Download our report to see how forward-thinking organizations are using skills-based hiring to drive growth, resilience and innovation across their workforce.

The Vision Report

Welcome to The Vision Report, the study that brings together the brightest minds in recruitment marketing and talent acquisition. This is more than a report - it's a conversation starter.

What's inside:

• Future-forward insights from subject matter experts, talent leaders, technology founders, analysts, and influencers.
• Data visualizations summarizing key trends.
• A rigorous methodology rooted in sentiment analysis and feedback from the industry’s best.

Bar’Omind performance and well-being: retrospective analysis and forecast

Learner engagement, innovation, adaptability, and performance: how can you fine-tune your HR and training initiatives?

Discover 4 key facts on performance and mental well-being since the pandemic, to guide your HR actions and boost your company’s human potential!

This study analyzes the scientific data of 355 individuals from homogeneous samples of our research database. The database anonymously consolidates the data of people supported by the Omind Neurotechnologies in-company training programs on managerial and behavioral skills.

How Xerox's ERG members help recruit candidates

The Xerox Conversation Exchange has facilitated 1,497 conversations between ERG members and top candidates. The program is designed to answer the question: “What’s it really like to work at Xerox?”

Qualified candidates receive an invitation for a “culture conversation” on Turazo’s platform. The candidate picks an employee who they’ll resonate with. On a video call, the candidate can ask anything, including about culture, benefits, and advancement.

The result is a new, trusted relationship on the inside. Nearly everyone reported understanding Xerox better, and 82% said they’re more likely to accept an offer from Xerox.

Hire Better with Clovers

Hire smarter, faster, and more efficiently with Clovers. Learn more!

How Gilead Sciences Designs Global Comp Personas

Gilead Sciences is on its way to global pay equity: localized comp personas, pay transparency, and personalized programs.

But how did they get there?

We’re excited to have Gilead’s Camille Alexander join us for Compa’s next webinar and share her perspective as VP of Total Rewards for one of life sciences’ biggest names.

Join us Thursday, Oct 17th at 11:00 AM PT / 2:00 PM ET to learn how Gilead Sciences designs global comp personas to elevate employees

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What it means to be globally transparent (tools, training, tactics)
• Why comp personas can help you keep your best talent
• How to improve employees’ experiences without introducing major comp changes

Fueling Talent for Tomorrow: A Global TA Roundtable Series from Cielo (Sandy Springs, Georgia)

When: Oct. 17, 2024, 1-5 p.m. ET
Where: Sandy Springs, GA

Cielo is pleased to invite CXR Members to an exclusive, half-day event designed for senior TA & HR leaders. We’ll then unwind with light bites, drinks, & networking.

HR & TA leaders are feeling the pressure to do more with less. This event is perfect to see how others are tackling these challenges while discovering the latest trends & innovative solutions.

You’ll:

• Discover the latest data & trends
• Learn how digitization & GenAI can help attract & retain talent
• Explore the current state of diversity in the workforce
• Hear success stories in creatively blending people, process & technology

Attendees will gain actionable insights, fresh ideas, & new connections.

Space is limited. Register now.⁠⁠⁠

Introducing SocialTalent's AI-powered practice activities

SocialTalent is elevating learning with AI-powered activities that simulate human-to-human interactions, allowing learners to practice hiring skills in real-world scenarios. 

Think of our AI-powered activities as a personalized guide, steering each learner through their training journey. Learners first gain insights from our expert faculty, then refine those skills through AI-driven simulations that mimic real hiring challenges. This hands-on, interactive approach ensures that your teams understand the concepts and how to apply them effectively, leading to better hiring outcomes.

The 2024 Security Clearance Compensation Report

Not unlike other years, this report is jam-packed with critical insights into compensation trends within the cleared community.

Aside from compensation figures broken down by location, clearance, and more, the 2024 Security Clearance Compensation Report touches on remote/hybrid work, desired company benefits, and job satisfaction. This report should be considered required reading for anyone hiring cleared professionals this year.

2024 Cleared Recruiting Guide: Metric City for Hiring Cleared Talent

Have you embraced automation and AI in your recruiting? 68% of recently surveyed cleared recruiters have implemented AI to increase efficiencies, reduce errors, and maintain objectivity.

We've gleaned dozens of statistics like this from our 2024 Cleared Recruiting Survey to compile this year's 2024 Cleared Recruiting Guide. How do you and your recruiting team stack up?

Evaluate your own recruiting efforts and identify areas for improvement with metrics on:

• Average Time to Fill
• Average Cost Per Hire
• Conversion Rates
• Recruiting Pain Points
• Compensation Trends
• And more

Dice Tech Sentiment Report

The Dice Tech Sentiment Report offers valuable insights into how tech and HR professionals perceive the tech job market in 2024. By surveying both groups, the report delves into four key areas: Artificial Intelligence, Economic Outlook, Career Change, and Life at Work. These findings empower organizations to refine their talent acquisition strategies, align recruitment messaging with current tech professional sentiments, make informed decisions on compensation and benefits, and better prepare for the growing demands in AI/ML talent acquisition. 

AI Hiring Guide

Dice’s guide for technical recruiters is stacked with actionable insights to elevate how you find, attract and hire tech professionals skilled in today’s most in-demand AI tools. 

SparcStart's ROI Calculator

Unlock the potential of video in your recruitment strategy with SparcStart’s ROI Calculator.

Looking to engage candidates with authentic, scalable video content while saving on production costs? Curious about how employee-generated videos can amplify your brand exposure and cut down on advertising spend? Our ROI Calculator provides a clear breakdown of the cost savings and earned media value that video can offer. Whether you're looking to streamline content creation or maximize brand visibility, this tool delivers the insights you need to make informed decisions.

Explore the ROI Calculator today and see the impact video can have on your recruitment efforts.

Job Market Pulse | US Jobs Report Q2 2024

We are excited to share the latest insights from our Q2 U.S. Jobs Report, offering key data points about the U.S. labor market in the second quarter of 2024. The data in this U.S. report comes from Aspen Technology Labs’ JobsIndex, which aggregates daily vacancy information from more than 115,000 company career sites, ensuring you receive the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Overall, this quarter, vacancies continued their upward trend from Q1 (which saw a 1.2% QoQ increase), ticking up 0.4% quarter over quarter. While the growth is modest, it signals that the job market continues to recover after a contraction in 2023, which followed a record-high year for job listings in 2022.