On the face of it, the U.S. job market has looked pretty stable this year. Hiring has been solid – if not exactly spectacular – after a lackluster 2025.
But underneath the headline numbers, the job market is sending mixed and confusing signals.
Companies in some industries can’t find enough workers and have to pay premium wages to fill vacancies. Others are making such efficient use of technology that they don’t need to hire much at all.
Normally, the American labor market looks either good or bad. Lately, it’s been a bit of both.
Layoffs are rare — but times are tough for jobseekers
