Job Market Shake-Up: AI, Skills, and Layoffs Define 2025 Hiring Trends

75%

In 2025, 75% of recruiters will focus on skills over degrees, and 63% of companies will offer hybrid work models. AI will impact hiring, but 58% of employees feel unprepared for these changes. Pay transparency is gaining traction, with 60% of companies planning to disclose salary ranges. Job openings are expected to rise by 5% in key industries, and 70% of companies will increase investment in employee training.

99%

AI is reshaping tech hiring in 2025, with 99% of HR pros seeing increased AI skill demands. Skills-first hiring has tripled in two years, and 95% say finding candidates with both technical and soft skills is harder than before. DEI efforts are declining, with 24% of companies cutting back, which could raise hiring costs (50%) and increase turnover (48%). 63% of hiring leaders say it's harder to find AI-skilled candidates than other tech roles.

151,000

The U.S. added 151,000 jobs in February, below the expected 170,000, marking the weakest February growth since 2019. Unemployment rose to 4.1% from 4% in January. January and December job numbers were revised down by 2,000 jobs. Job growth in January and February was 19% lower than the same period in 2024. Federal job cuts and weak private sector hiring are contributing to labor market uncertainty.

1000

Coinbase plans to hire 1,000 more employees in the US in 2025, increasing its workforce by 27% from the current 3,772 staff. CEO Brian Armstrong mentioned that the growth reflects a positive outlook for crypto. The company also plans to expand its international presence. Armstrong highlighted that improved regulatory clarity in the US is encouraging this growth. The new hires will focus on engineering, product development, and compliance.

172017

U.S.-based employers announced 172,017 job cuts in February, a 245% increase from the previous month and the highest since July 2020. Federal government layoffs accounted for 62,242 cuts from 17 agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was responsible for 63,583 layoffs, including contractors. Most federal layoffs were in Washington D.C., with 61,795 jobs lost so far this year.