It’s Worse than You Think.

If you’re struggling to land a job, stay in a job, or just get a reply to any of your thousands of applications—it’s not just you. The job market in 2025 is broken in more ways than one, and most of the advice out there isn't always relevant or useful. We’re not just dealing with “a slowdown,” we're dealing with a dead in the water situation.

Here's a breakdown of what’s really going on.

Hiring, Stalled. Growth, Dead.

• Companies aren’t hiring unless they have to. Openings are scarce, and most new roles are for replacements, not expansion.
• Wage growth isn’t real when inflation eats the difference. Most people aren’t getting ahead—they’re barely holding on.
• Underemployment is everywhere. Full-time jobs are being replaced with part-time contracts, temp work, or gig jobs.
• Caution is the norm. Economic indicators look decent on paper, but in practice? Everyone’s still acting like it’s 2020.

Less Jobs. More Hoops. No Guarantees.

• Application volume is way up. You’re applying to roles (real or fake) along with thousands of other job seekers.
• Hiring timelines are bogus. Two interviews turned into five. Then comes a test. Then a panel. Then an assigment. Then… nothing. Ghosted.
• Ghost jobs waste your time. Employers are posting listings that they have no intention of hiring for.
• Remote roles are lightning in a bottle. Most applicants want remote; most companies aren’t offering it. They still want productivity theater.

The System is Scaling Too Fast

• Automation is doing what it’s meant to: cut headcount. Roles that used to be handled by admin or entry-level staff are now handled by software—or not at all.
• AI hiring tools are screening people out, not in. And they’re replicating the same biases that existed before, just faster and with fewer humans.
• Everything is “skills-based” now, until it isn’t. If you don’t have the exact buzzwords or keyword stuffing from the job posting, you’re out. Doesn’t matter how qualified you are.
• Upskilling is needless busy work. New platforms, new tools, new certificates—none of it guarantees a job. Speaking from experience.

Burnout Is Real

• Prolonged unemployment is isolating and demoralizing. Even if you’re doing everything “right,” you probably feel like you’re failing. And it takes it's toll.
• Workers who do have jobs aren’t okay either. Hiring freezes mean existing staff are covering more ground with fewer resources and can't leave a toxic employer.
• Financial anxiety is killing momentum. People aren’t leaving bad jobs because the risk of no job is worse.
• Burnout isn’t temporary anymore. It’s affecting both job seekers and employees. Burnout is a reality of daily life now.

DEI: Gutted

• DEI roles were the first to be cut. Many companies removed them entirely. Others left them in place but stripped them of any power they had.
• Legal threats have chilled progress. Corporate DEI efforts are being walked back—not because they weren’t working, but because they’re now politically risky.
• Underrepresented groups are losing ground. That includes anyone who’s already had to navigate bias just to get their foot in the door.
• Inclusive culture talk is mostly just that—talk, no real action. DEI fatigue is real. So is the push to make inclusion someone else’s problem.

The Talent's There. The Jobs Are Not.

• There are people who want to work (deperately).
• You can’t network your way into a job market that isn’t hiring.
• You can’t rebrand yourself out of unemployment.

Everything Feels Hopeless Because It Is

• Employers aren’t firing much, but they’re not hiring either. That means fewer openings and less churn.
• Talent is mismatched. Job postings expect more for less. Everyone is looking for their unicorn with their unrealistc job requirements.
• Nobody’s being honest about how bad it is. Besides the communities on Reddit, companies are still pretending that they're hiring. Politicians still pretend that the job numbers are strong. Recruiters still tell you to stay positive and keep jumping through those hoops.
• We're way past optimism. What people need now is transparency and real opportunities.

If you’ve been unemployed for months, stuck in gig work, or rage-applying—it’s not because you aren’t trying hard enough. You’re not doing something wrong. The market is.

👉Let's talk recruiters: Recruiters: Job Seekers Friend or Foe?

Disclaimer:

The content on this site is for informational and commentary purposes only and reflects the author's personal opinions. It does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. All data sources are cited where applicable. Stories shared by users or sourced from public forums are anonymized and presented for illustrative purposes only.