Planning Your Next Move? Here’s What You Need to Know About Today’s Job Market
Essential job market insights for experienced professionals
If you’re contemplating a job or career change, now is the time to get clear on what’s happening in the labor market. The economy is shifting—subtly in some places and dramatically in others. This post offers a quick, accessible look at what the latest data (from June’s employment report) tells us about trends that could impact your next move.
What June’s Employment Report Says About the Job Market
Economists are seeing mixed signals:
“We’re having a manufacturing recession.” — Henry McVey, KKR
“More signs of cooling, not recession.” — Sam Kuhn, Appcast
“Tariffs + tight monetary policy = weakened labor demand.” — Samuel Tombs, Pantheon Macroeconomics
Translation? It’s not a full-blown downturn—but certain industries are clearly losing steam.
The Big Picture—Mixed Signals
✔️ Unemployment dropped to 4.1%—but due to fewer people looking for work
⚠️ Payrolls rose by 147,000 (only half in the private sector)
❌ Manufacturing declined for the second straight month
⚠️ Layoffs remain below average—but hiring is more selective
Sector Spotlight – Who’s Hiring and Who’s Not
Up:
🔺 The service sector, particularly health care, leisure and hospitality, state government, and construction
Stagnating or declining:
⚠️ Most goods producing sectors and business services
Roles on the Rise
These roles are seeing increased demand despite overall uncertainty:
🧐 AI Engineers & Consultants — Driven by automation investment
💉 Healthcare Direct-Care Workers — Fueled by staff shortages and demand
📊 Big Data & Fintech Engineers — Analytics and digital transformation roles continue to grow
Roles with Declining Demand
Where employers are pulling back:
🏛️ Federal Government
🔻 7,000 jobs in May and more to come
🏭 Manufacturing
🔻 Vehicle & metal production jobs down
📦 Wholesale Trade
🔻 Warehouse/logistics roles softening
🧾 Admin & Business Services
🔻 Fewer consulting and support roles
Remote Work Trends
Remote job postings dipped in June—for the first time this year
Tech still leads in volume of remote roles
Healthcare is seeing rapid growth in hybrid and remote opportunities
Key Takeaways
Uncertainty reigns—but there are clear takeaways for job seekers:
✔️ Fewer sectors are hiring—target your search accordingly
✔️ Layoffs remain low—but job security concerns are rising
✔️ Industry-specific value matters more than experience alone
✔️ Job seekers are facing longer hiring timelines in many industries
How to Adapt
🧭 Target employers with clear growth plans
🤝 Network with purpose—relationships = referrals > cold apps
📝 Tailor everything—show your impact
🔄 Upskill & adapt—AI and tech skills matter
🔍 Stay agile—adjust to market feedback
Want to Take the Next Step in Your Career?
I’m Jeff Rothman. I help experienced professionals find clarity, purpose, and direction during career transitions—especially at mid-career and beyond.
