In recent years, many have found it tough to land a new job, let alone a better one.
As employers have scaled back on hiring, some have also sacrificed the perks that helped them remain competitive during the Great Resignation, such as higher pay.
That might be changing. After a few bleak years, job seekers could be gaining leverage in the market, ZipRecruiter’s most recent new hires survey suggests.
After the storm? Fifty-three percent of the over 1,500 workers surveyed by ZipRecruiter who started their current jobs within the past six months were actively recruited, up from 29% during Q3 2024. And for some, the grass is proving to be greener on the other side: 46% of those surveyed said they were “very satisfied” with their job, compared to 39% who said the same the previous quarter.
Moreover, 73% of workers earned more upon switching jobs, compared to just 57% in Q3, and 31% reported receiving a counter-offer from their previous employer, compared to 17%. Around 43% received a sign-on bonus, nearly 3.5 times more than the 12% who reported the same in the previous quarter.
These changes may reflect recent shifts in employers’ attitudes toward hiring.
“The size of the improvement in various survey metrics—such as the share of new hires getting counter-offers, pay increases, and sign-on bonuses upon switching jobs—initially surprised us,” Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter’s chief economist, told HR Brew over email. “But it is consistent with employer surveys showing an increase in optimism and willingness to hire more staff in the coming six months than they did in the prior six months.”
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Yes, but… It’s still too early to confirm a shift in the labor market. One quarter of data showing an uptick after two years of decline is “insufficient,” the ZipRecruiter survey warned. “If we see similar shares of new hires achieve positive outcomes in the next two quarters, that will be convincing evidence of a substantial and sustained improvement in labor market conditions for and worker leverage,” Pollak said.
And some of the survey’s findings weren’t so rosy for job seekers: New hires who reported their offers being rescinded rose to 31%, more than double from previous quarters.
For HR and recruitment leaders continuing to navigate the uncertain hiring landscape, it might be wise to brace for heightened competition.
“They should forecast talent needs should market conditions improve, reengage pipelines, streamline hiring, and invest in AI-driven hiring tools,” Pollak said. “They should also enhance employer branding, optimize compensation, and help their organizations modernize their jobs with a view to attracting and retaining top talent before competition intensifies.”