The go-go hiring days of 2022 and 2023, when there were almost two job openings for every job seeker, are in the rearview mirror. But there are plenty of jobs available in 2025.
New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics telegraphs guarded optimism about increased hiring in the coming months. The economy added 256,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department reported on Friday, beating expectations. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%.
Although it is early in the new year, the confidence of business leaders could turn into a boost in hiring in the coming months.
I reached out to a handful of experts to get their insights on what this all means for job seekers and the best ways to navigate the hiring landscape.
“Landing a job today is likely to be significantly more difficult and time-consuming than it was in 2022,” Cory Stahle, labor economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, told Yahoo Finance. “But we are entering a job market where there are still many opportunities available.”
Health care, construction, government and manufacturing workers are in high demand, while white-collar jobs in finance and technology — such as software development and data science, marketing and professional services — are tighter, Stahle said.
There are also hotly contested jobs that you might not have thought of. Six out of 10 LinkedIn “Jobs in Progress” showcasing “the evolving world of work and emerging opportunities that job seekers may not have considered before.” The list tracks the fastest growing sites.
The positions include artificial intelligence engineer, artificial intelligence consultant, and physical therapist. There is a demand for workforce development managers, who design and implement training programs to upskill employees. Travel advisors are on the rise. Event coordinators, development directors who run fundraising strategies, and sustainability experts, who analyze a company's environmental and social impacts and create strategies for resource efficiency, also made the cut.
Several engineering roles appeared on the list for the first time, including bridge engineer, nuclear engineer, and instrumentation and control engineer
As a self-proclaimed geek and research nerd, I was pleased to discover that research librarians are back in vogue.
“Only about 30% of job seekers say they want to change industries, but more than 50% of recently hired workers have found their jobs in a new industry,” said Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, the employment search site, by Yahoo Finance. “That suggests that employees who keep an open mind, broaden their search, invest in new skills, and pursue opportunities are disproportionately successful.”
Some of the most in-demand skills, according to LinkedIn research: Customer service, project management, communication, leadership, teamwork, sales, and strategic planning.
For AI enthusiasts, the tide is shifting in your direction.
“We've started to see an increasing number of employers asking for integrative artificial intelligence skills,” Stahle said at Indeed. “If you have these AI skills, 2025 could be a pretty good year for you to look.”
“Transferable skills can also open doors to new roles,” Amy Glaser, senior vice president at staffing agency Adecco, told Yahoo Finance. “Part-time roles also offer a valuable way to gain experience, build connections, and transition to a full-time position.
“Overall, adaptability and a willingness to learn are essential for employees who want to thrive in today's multi-generational workforce.”
College degrees are increasingly taking a back seat as a prerequisite for many hiring decisions. (Getty Creative) ·Image Source via Getty Images
An increasing number of employers are dropping educational and even experience requirements from job postings, according to Stahle – “which means there are roles you wouldn't have qualified for in the past and now you might qualify because you have the skills and possibly can step into one of those jobs,” he said.
Formal educational requirements have been falling in almost all sectors and occupational groups analyze by Indeed. The proportion of jobs requiring at least a bachelor's degree fell to 17.6% in October 2024, from around 20% before the pandemic.
“This may seem like a modest decline on the surface, but in reality, it represents tens of thousands more jobs that could be open today compared to just a few years ago for the more than 60% of Americans without a college degree,” Stahle said.
Other reports show a similar change. One in three organizations have removed degree requirements from job descriptions to consider all applicants with the necessary skills and experience, according to Pay scale. Before you get too upset, part of those employers, 16%, pay more for those with a bachelor's degree.
The trend in experience requirements has also decreased, from 40% in 2022 to 32.6% in 2024, according to Indeed. If the labor market picks up in 2025, the share of jobs requiring a college degree or specific years of experience could drop again as employers compete for workers, Stahle said.
Online job posting continues to attract a flood of applications. To cut through the clutter, this year it will be important for job seekers to “display personality and a personal brand to catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers,” says job seeker Hannah Morgan. a strategistto Yahoo Finance.
“Generic, AI-generated resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles won't be enough to differentiate job seekers,” he said, adding that “many recruiters and hiring managers are looking for AI-generated materials.”
Deciding how much personality to convey can be a difficult line to walk, he says. Start by including any work details that will highlight your achievements, certifications or awards. “Highlight what makes you a little different and mention why that's valuable to a potential employer,” she says.
Have a great example in your back pocket to share with hiring managers of a challenge, your action and the outcome you navigated. I call this your CAR story. Hiring managers love numbers to back it up.
“Use real measurable data to highlight work accomplishments,” says Morgan. Replace, for example, “self-motivated top producer who consistently exceeds targets by retaining and growing existing accounts with a consultative approach” with a specific example such as “exceeded sales goals by 125%, achieving $800K in quarterly sales by nurturing relationship and analysis. – driven decision making,” he said.
Being employed the old-fashioned way is still in style.
Most full-time positions are either filled internally or through referrals. Referred applicants are hired at a rate of 30%, while applicants for jobs accessed through other means are hired at a rate of only 7%, according to a survey by Jobvite.
Employers fancy hiring people they know either directly or indirectly because it is less risky. And the perception by hiring managers that someone will be a good fit increases significantly when an insider gives them the nod. And many employers offer a bonus for referring someone who has been hired and is performing well.
“Consider reaching out to people you know within the company and tell them why you're interested in the opening at their company and ask if they can refer you,” says Morgan. “The key is to make more of an effort than just making a mass application.”
“Referrals are still the best way to get a job,” Maggie Mistal, career change coach and author of the book “Are You Ready to Love Your Job,” told Yahoo Finance. (Photo courtesy of Maggie Mistal)
Referrals can come from your existing network, but you don't want to reach out only when you need something, Maggie Mistal, and career change coachto Yahoo Finance.
“Make it a point to regularly reach out to your favorite contacts and colleagues. Check in, share an article, recommend an event, or even refer them for a job opportunity, he said. By giving when you don't need something, it will make it easier to ask when you do.”
If it's a new connection, you're asking to lend a hand, say, someone who knows someone you know who works for the employer with a job you want, foot lightly
“When you're reaching out to a new contact for a referral, it also helps to compliment them on something you really admire about their experience,” says Mistal. “Noticing that they have climbed a mountain or speak three languages or have grown up in the same area of the country… All these things show a real connection, and that builds rapport.
“And if you want someone to refer you for a job someday, you'll need to start by building a relationship.”
If you're looking for a new job, it's a good idea to reflect on your past experiences and turn them into stories.
Peter Duris, CEO and co-founder of AI-based career tool Kickresume said more than half of companies asking candidates to share stories about their previous roles.
It's not just about the times you hit the jackpot: Almost a quarter of companies also ask questions about mistakes or moments when candidates felt like they failed.
“Showing self-awareness and accountability while highlighting your problem-solving skills can help you get the job you want,” says Duris.
One more tip for interviewing: Wear your love for the company on your sleeve.
Many companies ask applicants to name their favorite thing about the company, or what specifically interests them in joining the company, or their favorite one of its products.
Google asked the interviewees, “What is your favorite Google product? Why? How would you improve it?”
