Placers Staffing President Chris Burkhard recently joined WDEL host Peter MacArthur to discuss the year’s significant changes in the labor market and offer timely advice for job seekers preparing for 2026.
Chris highlighted three major themes defining 2025: the market’s shift from an employee-driven landscape to a more normalized and balanced one; the odd paradox of a persistent focus on employee retention alongside a significant uptick in layoffs compared to recent record lows; and the pivotal moment where Artificial Intelligence (AI) became a required job skill rather than an encouraged bonus.
Reviewing recent labor data, Chris noted a slowdown in job creation and an increase in long-term unemployment, meaning job searches are taking longer. Despite some volatility in recent job reports (including a surprising dip in November driven by small business cuts), the overall unemployment rate of 4.4% remains historically low.
For those planning a “New Year, New Career,” Chris stressed that the time to act is now. His top tips included: auditing your “digital handshake” (resume, LinkedIn) to ensure it includes relevant keywords and AI fluency; utilizing LinkedIn’s confidential “Open to Work” feature to boost visibility; and, most importantly, networking over the holidays, as 80% of jobs come from personal connections and referrals.
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