The Job Market is Not What it Used to be

What is going on in the job market since covid? I have had so many people tell me either they or people they know have been searching for jobs for months to years with no avail. I hesitated to believe this and would write it off as well you're not looking hard enough or being consistent or persistent enough? Personally, I've never had trouble looking for employment, quite the contrary I've always found it easy to get a job.

It has been confirmed by several people close to me that the job market, is in fact impossible and has been for quite some time. What is driving so many companies to mislead the public? Should someone step in and regulate the job market? I think there are several factors beyond the ones listed below but here are some of the reasons people are having such a hard time landing a new job.

Sectoral Disruption: Industries like hospitality, travel, and retail were hit hard during the pandemic, leading to widespread layoffs. While some sectors have rebounded, others have permanently downsized or changed their operations.

Boom in Tech Layoffs: The tech industry, once a bastion of job security, has seen significant layoffs due to over hiring during the pandemic and shifting priorities.

Rise of Automation: Businesses accelerated the adoption of automation and technology during COVID, reducing the need for certain roles.

Oversaturation in Certain Fields: The pandemic pushed many workers to pivot careers, leading to increased competition in high-demand areas like healthcare, logistics, and remote technology jobs.

Global Talent Pools: The rise of remote work means employers can now hire from a global talent pool, increasing competition for jobs that were previously localized.

Skills Gap: Workers in traditional industries often face challenges transitioning to new, high-demand fields without additional training or certifications.

Inflation and Cost Pressures: Many companies are hesitant to hire due to economic uncertainties, rising costs, and fears of a potential recession.

Prolonged Hiring Processes: Companies often have lengthy and complex hiring processes, leading to delays and frustrations for candidates.

SCAMS! are a huge factor. I've seen so many text messages and emails from people acting like other companies to get candidates to 'download' telegram or whatsapp and follow instructions to discuss hiring which is a scam. They also email you these instructions and tell you you're hired right away without speaking to you which is a sign of a scam.

"Phantom Listings" are also why so many people are so frustrated wasting their time applying for jobs that do not exist! Companies may post job openings not because they’re actively hiring, but to gauge interest, collect resumes, or analyze market trends. Businesses also sometimes advertise roles they anticipate needing in the future but aren’t ready to fill yet. Certain staffing agencies or platforms post fake jobs to build a database of candidates or sell their services.

It can be so discouraging looking for employment in such a weird, unregulated, potentially dangerous job market. I advise everyone to be vigilant and if it looks like a scam, automatically forward to the FTC and reply 'reported to the authorities' to discourage such practices from the scammers. While being proactive to report the scams do not lose focus or be derailed from your mission which is to find a job. Keep searching, keep following up and get organized with your top companies and picks for a great job and be persistent. It is definitely easier said than done but we have to push forward.

The main job boards to use are Linkedin, Indeed, Zip Recruiter and Google. Make it a point to filter the dates to 'in the last week or 24 hours' and any other filters you deem necessary so you can weed out old listings.

Happy Job Hunting

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