2026 Job Market

 To those who have been laid off recently.

We are experiencing a whacky job market. Despite the fact that we are not in a recession, there are fewer jobs posted and increased competition for few roles. The hiring cycle is much longer that in recent times and the process is more impersonal, accentuated by the use of AI tools.

In short, the best strategy for Q12026 is NOT the time to step away, detox and assume a comparable job at the same pay is “out there waiting.” The job boards are the equivalent of a "black hole". The best jobs are not published "The Hidden Job Market". Hiring managers are not messing around reading dozens of resumes. People are getting jobs through networking. You will do but you must embrace the new norm. NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!

Today's Quote - Steve Jobs

 Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." 

- Steve Jobs, entrepreneur

Bad Advice: More ATS (Location)

  Bad Advice: More ATS (Location)

ATS - Location

Your buddy told you that you do not need to include your city, state and zip code on your resume.

DON'T LISTEN TO YOUR BUDDY!

Employers want employees at their desks, in their offices and not remote. This is a debate for a different time. However, as related to ATS:

You must add your location by city, state, and zip code (not home address) with your contact information at the top of the first page (please, do not protect in a header - many ATS programs are blocked by the header (and footer). 

Many ATS programs will scan zip codes (not the "city" or "state" to ensure candidates live close to the job they are applying.

Bad Advice - Number of Years on Your Resume

  Bad Advice - Number of Years on Your Resume

Your old college pal told you that you need to have all of your career experience on your resume because employers want more experienced people for the positions they are looking to full.

SORRY - BAD ADVICE!!!

Why in the world would you say that Allan?  That makes all the sense in the world.

Well, age discrimination is real and it has nothing with your ability to do the job.  The primary issue is the hiring manager's willingness to pay you your worth. The goal of your resume is to get you in the door.  If you are 53 years old and have 30 years of sales experience, you need to remember that you are competing against younger sales professionals who, at the end of the day, demand lower compensation. Think of it like this, when was the last time you read a job posting that mentioned as a requirement - "25+ years of experience is required"?  You have not read this because this posting does not exist.

In this "what have you done for me lately world" that we live in, it is only necessary to go back 10-12 years tops for mid-level work.  Include achievements to demonstrate success.  Once you get in the interview, you can speak to culture fit and salary requirements to show that you are a good match.

More about Ghost Posts:

  More about Ghost Posts:

The fake job listing trend isn’t limited to applicants with a broad range of expertise. These fake job postings are used for internal purpose (keep certain staff members / departments motivated, keep the HR department busy) or to avoid discrimination liabilities.”

Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026 (Over Hiring):

Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026 (Over Hiring):

The beginning of 2026 has been a rough ride for the job market.  Large employers including Amazon, Pinterest and UPS are cutting jobs, casting blame on the economic (higher interest rates, new tariffs) and geopolitical factors (uncertainty about world events (conflicts, economics), advancements in artificial intelligence as well as over hiring during the pandemic.  The "bloating" of organizations during 2020-2021, especially in the tech sector, led to 1.2M job cuts in 2025 by US employees, the highest annual figure since 2020, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The tech sector led all private-sector industries with 154,445 job cuts, followed by warehousing with 95,317.

By many measures, the U.S. economy still boasts a relatively healthy job market. The layoffs are heavily concentrated among a small number of big companies, and overall job losses are low by historical standards. The unemployment rate, while up from 2024, is well below prepandemic levels. As prominent employers such as Amazon now cut roles, many companies in other industries continue to hold on to their staffers.

Hiring has nevertheless slowed to a crawl. People who lose their job today often have a hard time finding a new one, and they stay out of work for longer. In December, the average length of unemployment was 24.4 weeks, according to Labor Department data. In December 2022, the figure was 19.4 weeks.

Source: WSJ

Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026 (Reduced Headcount COGS):

  Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026 (Reduced Headcount  COGS):

The job market is stagnant at the lower levels of organizations because their is a lack of new opportunities available as headcount reductions are a priority for companies, (esp. public companies) that are looking to make their Wall Street numbers.  Companies are also trying to figure out the effects of tariffs on the costs of goods (COGS) that they bring to market.  These uncertainties are complemented by "job hugging", which affects the natural flow of job openings (people are not leaving their jobs because new opportunities are not as readily available).  All told, too many candidates, not enough job openings, not only affect movement but also allow recruiters to be more selective in hiring.

Factors that have made the Job Market Sluggish in 2026 (Economic Uncertainty)

Factors that have made the Job Market Sluggish in 2026 (Economic Uncertainty)

Continuing with the top of the sluggish job market, economic uncertainty  ( lingering inflation and high interest rates (THE FED ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CUTS IN THE RATES IN THE NEAR TERM) have made businesses cautious, leading to slower hiring and less overall churn in the market, making it harder for people to switch jobs.  Also, tariffs remain a concern for businesses as well as other fiscal policy changes have resulting in making companies hesitant to expand their workforce.

Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026:

 Factors That Have Made the Job Market More Difficult in 2026 (Current Events):

I talk to numerous people on a daily basis about the job market and the general state of economic, social and political issues (domestic and foreign). Bear in mind that the issues of the day affect the job market. Whether it be social unrest in Minnesota, political turmoil in the Middle East or crazy wildfires in California (no - there are no wildfires at the moment), the world stops and people panic (employers are people too). When people panic, they slow down and become conservative with making decisions, become fixated with the events / issues and stop spending money. For the most part, this is short-term and when the "dust settles" the markets reverse.

Right now, with all the uncertainty of the first 28 days of 2026, there has been so much change and anxiety that the job market has been affected. This is the slowest January in the 10+ years I have been writing resumes. This will eventually lift - it is an unusual part of the cycle. It is not just the job market, but all consumer and business spending in general.

Why do Employees "Quiet Fire" Employees:

 Why do Employees "Quiet Fire" Employees:

The fact that this happens is horrible and cowardly. But it is a reality of the workplace.

One reason that employers "quiet fire" is that they wish to avoid the paperwork, HR processes, and potential legal issues of a direct, formal firing. By forcing a resignation, employers can also paying severance or unemployment benefits.

Signs of Quiet Firing

Signs of Quiet Firing

Assignment of projects that are far below your skill level, often viewed as busy work.  In addition, when the job holder has the largest responsibilities of their jobs reassigned to others