Hiring trends
Sector by sector, what is actually moving in the hiring market — summarised from credible industry and labour-market sources.
Technology postings have cooled from the previous month, but the annual picture remains positive and AI capability is now a mainstream part of the brief.
Technology · 27 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Read the full analysis
Healthcare · 24 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Technology · 19 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Healthcare · 19 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Construction · 18 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Experienced engineers from large-cap layoffs are finding roles, but mid-level candidates without a specialism face far longer searches. Sector switching is common.
Technology · 15 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Salary-range disclosure requirements now cover a majority of large-market postings. Wide ranges are drawing candidate criticism and hurting conversion.
Technology · 11 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Budget caution has pushed employers toward contract-to-hire arrangements, particularly for data and platform work. Conversion rates vary widely by employer.
Technology · 6 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Expansion in private credit and direct lending is creating demand for underwriting, portfolio monitoring and structuring talent. Banks are losing candidates to funds.
Finance · 18 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Following balance-sheet stress, US regional banks are adding liquidity risk, treasury and regulatory reporting staff. Candidates with stress-testing experience are scarce.
Finance · 14 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Automation of reconciliation and testing work has reduced routine entry-level tasks. Employers are hiring fewer analysts but expecting more judgement from each.
Finance · 9 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Catastrophe modelling and pricing actuaries remain in short supply as insurers reprice risk. Employers are widening geographic search radii rather than lowering requirements.
Finance · 4 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Employers adopting AI research and outreach tooling are lifting quotas rather than headcount. Hiring profiles have shifted toward account management skills.
Sales · 17 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Vacancy growth in medical device, industrial and energy sales is outpacing software. Candidates are crossing over from technology sales in significant numbers.
Sales · 12 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Employers are reversing fully distributed inside-sales models in favour of regional hubs with in-office coaching. It is changing where roles are advertised.
Sales · 8 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Employers are measuring recruitment success by time to first closed deal rather than time to fill. Onboarding investment is rising as a result.
Sales · 3 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
New semiconductor, battery and pharmaceutical plants are absorbing process, controls and quality engineers. Location is the main constraint on filling roles.
Engineering · 16 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Transmission, substation and interconnection work is generating multi-year demand for electrical engineers. Utilities are competing with developers for the same candidates.
Engineering · 13 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Record order backlogs are sustaining engineering recruitment across aerospace and defence primes and their supply chains. Clearance and citizenship requirements narrow the pool.
Engineering · 7 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Employers report that maintenance and instrumentation technicians are harder to hire than degreed engineers. Community college partnerships are becoming standard.
Engineering · 2 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Expanded coverage and telehealth demand have grown behavioural health services faster than the licensed clinician pipeline. Licensure portability is the main friction.
Healthcare · 14 Aug 2026 · 4 min read
Automation of coding and claims work is reducing routine administrative roles while increasing demand for analysts and auditors. Reskilling is becoming a retention tool.
Healthcare · 9 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Rural US hospitals are expanding loan repayment, housing and retention bonuses to compete for clinicians. Retention beyond the incentive period remains the challenge.
Healthcare · 4 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Housing starts have fallen in some Sun Belt markets while the Midwest and Northeast hold steady. Trades are relocating with the work.
Construction · 13 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Growth in modular and prefabricated delivery is shifting work into controlled facilities and changing the skills employers recruit for. Manufacturing-style roles are appearing on construction adverts.
Construction · 8 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Contractors with strong safety records report easier trade recruitment and lower attrition. Candidates increasingly ask about incident rates in interviews.
Construction · 3 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
Open vacancies and movement against the previous period. Figures are indicative, rounded, and intended to show direction of travel rather than precise counts.
Total open vacancies
3.25m
Q2 2026
Biggest riser
Healthcare +8.9%
vs previous period
Biggest faller
Technology -1.9%
vs previous period
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics · Q2 2026
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