Nov. Jobs Report 2025 Hiring has stabilized but competition remains high in key sectors

The Labor Market: Stable but Selective

According to the November 2025 BLS Jobs Report, the U.S. economy lost 105,000 jobs in October but recouped about 64,000 jobs in November, Meanwhile the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% up from 4.4% in September.

This aligns with JobGet’s Snagajob marketplace data showing continued employer demand—but with more targeted postings--namely healthcare and transportation.

Snagajob November 2025 Industry Job Posting Trends

What’s Driving November’s Posting Patterns

Transportation — Major Uptick (+34.8% MoM)

Transportation roles saw the biggest jump in posting activity — a clear indicator that employers were ramping logistics, delivery, and freight-related staffing for late-season volume and holiday demand.

Manager Insight:
Focus on creative scheduling and retention incentives (e.g., route premiums, weekend pay) to attract and keep this cohort. Candidates in this space often prioritize predictable hours and route clarity.

Healthcare — Slight Growth (+1.1% MoM)

Healthcare postings edged higher in November, continuing steady demand for nursing assistants, home-care staff, and clinical support workers.

Manager Insight:
This category tends to favor consistent scheduling and certification support over short-term incentives. Highlight training pathways and benefits to stand out.

Industries With Modest Declines

Several industries showed reduced posting activity in November which were consistent with late-season normalization after strong autumn hiring; they reflect shifting employer strategies as 2025 draws to a close.

• Food & Restaurant (−5.7%)

• Retail (−8.9%)

• Customer Service (−3.1%)

• Hotel & Hospitality (−5.7%)

• Warehouse & Production (−15.8%)

• Sales & Marketing (−6.5%)

Manager Insight:
A decrease in postings doesn’t necessarily mean weak demand — it often signals that employers have filled critical headcount earlier or are pausing new postings as they optimize schedules for holiday and year-end operations.

Wages Continue to Rise—Even as Hiring Slows

Wage growth remains a key pressure point for hourly employers:

• Average hourly earnings for all private-sector workers rose to $36.86, up 3.5% year over year

• Production and nonsupervisory (largely hourly) workers earned $31.76/hour, up 0.3% month over month and continuing a steady upward trend

Why it matters:
Even as posting volumes dip, competition for reliable hourly workers remains intense. Workers continue to expect competitive pay and predictable schedules. Employers pulling back on wages risk slower fills and higher churn.

Labor Supply is Still Tight Beneath the Surface

• Labor force participation remained flat at 62.5%.

• 5.5 million people were working part time for economic reasons, up significantly since September

• Short-term unemployment increased to 2.5 million, signaling continued worker movement

For employers, this suggests continued churn and availability, but not necessarily easier hiring—especially for roles with rigid schedules or lower starting pay.

While October data showed significant job losses, many of those losses were due to the 150,000 federal employees who took the Trump Administration’s deferred buyouts earlier in 2025 (and fell off the government payroll in September) as part of its effort to shrink the federal government’s workforce.

Long-Term Trends to Watch

Several longer-term trends continue to shape hourly hiring strategy:

• Labor force participation held at 62.5%, showing no major rebound in available workers

• Federal government employment declined again, but private-sector employment remained stable overall

• Aggregate weekly payrolls for production and nonsupervisory workers rose 0.5% month over month, reinforcing sustained income growth

What the Experts Are Saying

Reuters — "U.S. job growth snapped back in November even as the unemployment rate climbed, with employers showing little net change in payrolls since spring and hiring remaining cautious."

AP News — "The U.S. added 64,000 jobs in November, exceeding expectations, but the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest since 2021, highlighting a slower pace of hiring."

TIME — "The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, a four-year high, underscoring that wage growth and job creation have slowed even as the labor market still shows pockets of resilience."

Key Takeaways for Hiring Teams

1. Wage growth continues to influence candidate decisions

2. Slower posting volume does not equal easier hiring

3. Speed, flexibility, and clarity remain critical advantages

Snagajob data shows that employers who stay visible, competitive, and responsive will be best positioned as we head into 2026.

As the hourly expert, Snagajob and JobGet is here to help with your hiring needs. Contact our team today to learn more about our solutions for enterprise, mid-size, and small businesses.