New Year, New Job: The 2025 Employment Outlook
As the calendar flips to 2025, millions of workers worldwide are gearing up to make a career change. According to recent research from LinkedIn, a staggering 58% of workers globally plan to look for a new job this year. In the United States, the number of applicants per open job on LinkedIn has surged from 1.5 in 2022 to 2.5 as of fall 2024.
A Shift in Hiring Trends
Despite the increased competition, experts predict that the job search will be less painful than it was in 2024. Bert Bean, CEO of staffing firm Insight Global, attributes this to business leaders’ renewed confidence in the economy. With the uncertainty of 2024 behind them, companies are now planning to ramp up hiring.
Hiring in HR and Recruiting: A Bellwether for the Economy
Bean’s company is planning to hire twice as many recruiters this year as it did in 2024, a strong indication of the economy’s growth. As Bean notes, “If companies are hiring in HR and recruiting, they’re usually preparing to hire in other departments as well.” This trend is echoed by a recent survey of over 300 public company CEOs, which found that more than 75% expect the global economy to improve in the first half of 2025.
Industries to Watch
While hiring will pick up across the board, certain industries offer more promising prospects for job seekers. Bean recommends targeting roles in healthcare, engineering, finance, and oil and gas. These industries are increasing their headcounts for various reasons, including optimism about sector growth, talent shortages, and a need to counteract previous layoffs.
Healthcare: A Consistent Appetite for Talent
The healthcare industry has seen a strong, consistent demand for talent since the start of the pandemic. With high levels of burnout and turnover, healthcare providers are hiring aggressively for all kinds of skills, particularly nurses.
Tech and Finance: Bouncing Back from Layoffs
In contrast, tech and finance companies are ramping up hiring to counteract the layoffs and conservative hiring that defined these industries in 2023 and 2024. As Bean notes, “The threat of a recession spooked everyone, and then that recession never came. So just as we talked ourselves into a recession, I think we’re talking ourselves out [of it].”
With the job market poised for growth, now is the perfect time to upskill and reskill. Whether you’re looking to transition into a new industry or advance in your current role, 2025 is shaping up to be a promising year for job seekers.
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