Shocking Job Plunge Hits America

February 24, 2026

Job openings in America have plunged to levels unseen since the COVID lockdown chaos, exposing the lingering damage from Biden-era inflation and overspending that crushed working families.

Story Snapshot

US job openings dropped to 7.1 million in November 2025, down nearly 900,000 from the prior year, hitting post-COVID lows.
Global labor markets fragment with advanced economies like North America cooling sharply while select emerging markets rebound.
Employers adopt “low-hire, low-fire” strategy, hoarding workers amid uncertainty from past fiscal mismanagement and trade disruptions.
Wages in new postings rose 2.5% despite slowdown, prioritizing experienced hires over entry-level amid competitive pressures.

US Labor Market Hits Rock Bottom

US job openings fell to 7.1 million in November 2025, a drop of nearly 900,000 from the previous year, according to JOLTS data. This marks the sharpest cooling in advanced economies, reversing the 2021-2022 post-pandemic hiring boom. Economists like Samuel Tombs call hiring at “rock-bottom” levels, with companies reluctant to add staff despite stable unemployment at 4.9%. Older workers face extended careers as retirement delays due to economic uncertainty. President Trump’s tariff policies contribute to global trade shifts now stabilizing American markets.

Global Fragmentation Challenges Old Assumptions

Advanced economies in North America and Europe contract sharply, while Mexico, Brazil, and Japan see job posting rebounds from nearshoring and supply chain shifts. Revelio Labs notes job postings down 35% globally since early 2021, with growth confined to consulting, digital commerce, and financial services. Traditional sectors like technology, food and beverage, and aerospace face steep declines. Tighter monetary policies from 2023 onward dampened demand, compounded by demographic pressures in aging populations. Trump’s America-first trade approach exposes weaknesses in globalist models.

Low-Hire, Low-Fire Dynamic Shifts Power to Employers

Employers maintain vacancies longer while delaying hires, creating a “low-hire, low-fire” equilibrium with frozen worker mobility. Quit rates and retirements hit lows as companies hoard staff amid demand uncertainty, costs, and interest rates. This reverses the Great Resignation era when workers held leverage. Diane Swonk terms it a “jobless expansion” without precedent, hurting middle-class families in North America most. Entry-level and mid-career seekers face fierce competition, disadvantaging youth.

Wage Paradox and Long-Term Pressures Mount

New job postings show 2.5% salary increases in January 2026, as employers pay premiums for experienced talent in fewer roles. Global unemployment holds steady at 4.9%, but ILO warns progress on decent work stalled, with 300 million in extreme poverty and 2.1 billion in informal sectors lacking protections. By 2030, slower growth displaces 1.6 million jobs, widened by AI and skills gaps. Trade uncertainty from US policy changes cuts wages in Asia and Europe. Trump’s focus on domestic strength counters these globalist failures.

Sector Winners and Losers Emerge

Consulting, digital commerce, and financial services post year-on-year gains, while public sector management, food and beverage, and aerospace plummet. Technology retrenches after pandemic overexpansion. Manufacturing holds 16.1% global employment, concentrated in Asia. Youth face 17.8% urban unemployment in China, signaling broader risks. President Trump’s policies prioritize American workers, reducing reliance on unstable foreign labor pools and fostering self-reliance.