“So, while we can expect some ramping up in retail and transportation, it’s unlikely we’ll see major hiring surges in November and December,” McCaskill said.
He added, “We see the biggest hiring surge in January.”
The timing can be challenging, yet qualified applicants can still score new jobs.
While hiring levels in the U.S. are the lowest in November and December compared to the rest of the year, McCaskill told FOX Business, he said job opportunities are there — but so is the competition.
He said that “according to LinkedIn’s September 2023 State of the Labor Market report, while we’re seeing the rate of hiring declines slow and the market stabilize, the excess of jobs is now diminishing due in part to companies reducing job openings rather than increasing layoffs, and there’s currently one job opening for every two applicants on LinkedIn.”
“The end of year is actually a great time to get prepared for a job search and there are a ton of ways you can stand out to hirers.” (iStock / iStock)
He added, “To counteract the decrease in job openings, we’re seeing an uptick in jobseekers’ search activity, and applications per jobseeker has also surged — it’s up 18% year-over-year as of August 2023.”
Why job-search preparation makes sense at year’s end
McCaskill said that LinkedIn data shows that even in an uncertain economy, January is the busiest month for hiring.
“So, the end of year is actually a great time to get prepared for a job search and there are a ton of ways you can stand out to hirers,” he said.
Setting the wheels in motion now can help set you up for landing a role in January.
