Predictions for Worldwide Employment and Recruitment Trends in 2025, according to our site's findings

Japan's economy is expected to see a slight growth in 2025, driven by private demand, and the current wage growth rate is showing a sustained upward trend. Real wage growth in Japan is finally expected to turn positive, marking a significant improvement in the country's economic outlook.

Meanwhile, the US job market is forecasted to undergo a rare economic soft landing in 2025. The job market is cooling, and inflation is declining without widespread job losses, indicating a more balanced economic scenario.

In contrast, the Australian labor market remains tight by historical standards, with employment gains increasingly driven by government and non-market industries. However, Australian labor productivity continued to decline in 2024, with the workforce now only as productive as it was seven years ago. Pay transparency, on the other hand, is on the rise, with 37% of job postings featuring pay information by the end of 2024.

The UK economy performed better than expected in 2024, but 2025 could be challenging. Job postings fell in almost all occupational categories in the UK in 2024, and the popularity of remote and hybrid work will persist, despite employers' return-to-office pushes. Zero-hours contracts have been gradually rising ahead of anticipated policy changes.

The Irish economy is expected to rebound in growth in 2025, alongside low inflation and unemployment. Foreign job searches for Ireland reached the highest in at least eight years, potentially helping to address skills shortages. Jobs mentioning Generative AI are rare but growing fast and appearing across various occupations in Ireland.

Canada's labor market may face a year of disappointment in 2025 without changes. Wage growth could cool after a strong 2024, and stronger employer demand is crucial for a labor market turnaround. Generative AI is changing tech jobs in Canada but rarely mentioned in other job postings. Immigration and emigration are key policy wildcards for the Canadian labor market.

In Europe, France's employment outlook in 2025 indicates ongoing efforts to attract highly qualified workers. The country faces a significant shortage of medical professionals, especially in general medicine, geriatrics, psychiatry, radiology, and anesthesiology, creating opportunities with challenges for foreign doctors. The competition for talent is cooling down in Germany, with a decline in worker demand, particularly affecting top-paying jobs. International interest in jobs in Germany is leveling off, potentially constructing labor supply.

The competition for talent is also high in the US, where GenAI adoption is growing but needs to be more widespread among various industries for a strong economic impact. Sectors exposed to trade and commodity prices in France will face strong uncertainties due to the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, and trade tensions. Public officials in France may have to make structural choices in 2025 to maintain the long-term standard of living due to a slowdown in activity and political instability.

Overall, global labor markets showed strength in 2024, with most developed economies cooling from positions of strength. However, 2025 presents a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities, requiring careful navigation by policymakers and businesses alike.