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👋 Good tidings to you! The numbers are in, and they’re giving HR leaders something extra to think about this festive season: 61% of U.S. workers say their mental health takes a hit during the holidays, with 44% feeling more stressed than usual. Between year-end deadlines, financial pressures, and that one coworker who won’t stop playing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on repeat, it’s a lot to handle.
But here’s a bright spot: More companies are stepping up their holiday support game. From flexible scheduling to mental health resources, employers are getting creative about keeping spirits bright. And speaking of bright spots — 35% of companies are now giving employees the whole week off between Christmas and New Year’s. Now that’s what we call a holiday bonus!
Speaking of breaks… we’ll be taking one ourselves. No newsletters on December 26 or January 2 – we’re practicing what we preach about work-life balance! But don’t worry, we’ll be back in your inbox on January 9, recharged and fired up to take on 2025 together!
Until then, may your hiring pipelines stay warm, and your workplace stress levels stay low!
— Team Talivity ✨
Today’s edition is a 3-minute read. Here’s what to expect👇
🗞️ Indeed releases 2025 jobs report
💰️ Gen Z wants in-person
🌎️ Randstad Digital hire a new CEO
💼 Cigna, WebMD hiring for TA roles
💻 Layoffs hit Yahoo, Sotheby’s
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NEWS
One Thing You Should Know This Week
Indeed’s 2025 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report: What To Expect When You’re Expecting a Soft Landing
After years of recession fears and market volatility, Indeed‘s latest report suggests we’re finally approaching that elusive “soft landing” in 2025 — but don’t expect clear skies just yet.
🖼️ The big picture.
Think of the current job market as a plane making a careful descent: We’re gliding down from the post-pandemic hiring surge, but we need perfect conditions to stick the landing. The market’s cooling, but doing so from a position of strength. The cushion that protected us from turbulence is thinning, though, making the margin for error narrower than it’s been in years.
🧮 By the numbers:
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180,000 jobs added monthly in 2024, down from 251,000 in 2023
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75% of all 2024 job gains came from just three sectors
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10% job postings decline year-over-year through November
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3.3% hiring rate: lowest since 2013 (excluding pandemic)
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76,000 monthly labor force growth in 2024, well below trend
💼 What this means for TAs.
Time to rethink your talent playbook. While some sectors cool off, others heat up: healthcare, government, and leisure & hospitality combined represented almost 75% of jobs added in the last 12 months. But even these sectors are showing signs of fatigue. The key? Focus on building pipelines in growth areas and embrace skills-based hiring — because the traditional “must have X years of experience” approach is becoming yesterday’s news.
👔 What this means for job seekers.
The days of multiple offers and lightning-fast hiring are fading. Landing a job will likely take longer in 2025, especially in knowledge-work sectors. But don’t panic: unemployment remains stable, and layoffs are still historically low. Construction workers, claims adjusters, and automotive sales professionals should find opportunities in 2025, while tech workers might need to broaden their search. Healthcare remains a bright spot, but competition is intensifying across all sectors. The trick will be focusing on sectors where demand remains strong and being open to roles that might not have been on your radar before.
🔮 Looking ahead.
We’re witnessing a fascinating race: In one lane, we’ve got demographic challenges and a shrinking workforce. In the other, AI and automation promising to boost productivity. The winner of this race could determine whether we’re heading for a talent shortage crisis or a productivity revolution. For now, the smart money’s on companies that can balance both — using tech to enhance their workforce while staying flexible enough to adapt to whatever 2025 throws their way.
📥️ Read more at Indeed.
NUMBERS
Numbers That’ll Make You Think
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$100B — Amount SoftBank plans to invest in US projects over next four years after Trump meeting. That’s some serious stimulus. (WSJ)
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18 weeks — New paid parental leave for Starbucks baristas, triple the previous amount. That’s what we call a grande gesture… (Bloomberg)
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3.3% — Expected merit salary increases for 2025, holding steady from 2024. On the bright side, at least something’s staying constant. (HR Brew)
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20% — Of companies are spending less on holiday parties this year. Ho ho… hold the caviar. (HR Brew)
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91% — Of young workers say in-person experiences boost engagement. Gen Z wants face time, not FaceTime. (HR Brew)
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33% — Of candidates backed out after accepting job offers, down from 49% last year. Commitment, unlike your ex, is making a comeback. (Staffing Industry)
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63% — Of companies plan to add new permanent positions in first half of 2025. Looks like someone’s been reading our holiday wish list… (Staffing Industry)
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97% — Of executives feel urgency to incorporate generative AI into operations. ChatGPT has entered the boardroom. (Staffing Industry)
TA WEEK
Join Talivity at TA Week 2025 & Enjoy 15% Off Tickets
🚀 Join Talivity at the ultimate experience for TA professionals! TA Week 2025 combines three leading talent acquisition events in one week to deliver the most comprehensive conference experience, covering the latest on talent sourcing, recruiting and employer branding strategies.
As a valued part of our community, we’re giving you 15% off early bird pricing with code TALIVITY15 — but act fast! Pricing increases on 1/9/2025. Secure your spot today and be the first to register for Talivity’s yoga class on February 5th.
👉️ Secure your free spot today.
INDUSTRY INTEL
M&A Deals, Industry Moves, & Other Things To Know
- Manufacturing giant Jabil discovers heavy reliance on undocumented workers through staffing agencies, highlighting growing concerns about labor verification in tech supply chains. (NYT)
- Harvard Law‘s Black student enrollment dropped by more than half after the Supreme Court‘s affirmative action ruling. First-year Black students fell to 19 from 43 students last year, the lowest number since the 1960s. (NYT)
- AI-powered recruitment platform Pin emerges from stealth with $3M in funding. They’re claiming to cut time-to-hire by 70% — time will tell if they can pin down that promise. (HR Tech Feed)
- Mastech Digital CEO Vivek Gupta steps down, with Nirav Patel taking the helm in January. (Staffing Industry)
- European staffing firm Pixid Group acquires AI search firm theMatchBox, doubling down on AI-powered recruitment solutions, and making this a match made in algorithm heaven. (ABC4)
- Tech titans Salesforce and OpenAI are leading 200+ companies in implementing AI agents for autonomous work solutions. Welcome to the era of digital labor, where your next coworker might be running on algorithms instead of caffeine. (Staffing Industry)
- Randstad Digital names Graig Paglieri as new CEO effective January 2025. (LinkedIn)
OPEN ROLES
Jobs You Might Want (For Yourself!)
- Global research firm Ipsos is hiring a Human Resources Business Partner based in Culver City, CA
- Healthcare leader The Cigna Group is hiring a Strategic HR Business Partner based in Tempe, AZ
- Eyewear company Safilo is hiring a Junior HR Business Partner based in Secaucus, NJ
- E-signature company Docusign is hiring an HR Business Partner based in San Francisco, CA
- Health information provider WebMD is hiring an HR Business Partner based in Newark, NJ
- Staffing firm Michael Page is hiring an HR Manager based in Boston, MA
LAYOFFS
Places For You To Source Fresh Talent
- Tech veteran Yahoo cuts 25% of cybersecurity team, outsources “red team” operations. (TechCrunch)
- Foundry, the world’s largest BTC mining pool operator, reduces workforce by 27%. (CoinGeek)
- Scheduling powerhouse Calendly lays off 70 employees across engineering, customer experience, marketing, and billing teams. (Yahoo)
- EV startup Canoo initiates new round of layoffs just two months after relocating employees to Texas. (Electric Vehicles)
- Fintech veteran BlueVine cuts 100 jobs, marking second round of layoffs in six months. (C Tech)
- Auction titan Sotheby’s cuts over 100 staff globally as part of major restructuring. (The Art Newspaper)
👋 Thanks for reading!
December 19th, 2024
5 Minutes
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