Why Do People Turn Down Great Job Opportunities?
Recently, one of our recruiting clients shared a story with us that got us thinking. She had identified what she genuinely believed was an amazing
The Recovery May Not Be Arriving All At Once – But It Is Arriving
What stronger-than-expected hiring data, rising market activity, and employer behavior are telling us about the second half of 2026. Back in January, we outlined several possible
BLS Report – May 2026
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 172k; unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 172,000 in May, and the
The Quiet Return of Candidate Confidence
The Hiring Market Shift Expands Candidate Leverage Beyond Leadership Roles For a while, many companies held the leverage in hiring. Candidates were cautious, timelines stretched,
BLS Report – April 2026
Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 115k; unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 115,000 in April,
Candidate Leverage Is Returning in Pockets: What Employers Should Do Now
After an extended employer-driven market, we are starting to see early signs that candidate leverage is returning in certain areas of staffing and recruiting. Not
BLS Report – March 2026
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 178k; unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 178,000 in March, and the
The Rise of Hybrid Commitment: Why Employee Loyalty Looks Different in 2026
For decades, commitment at work was largely assumed. If someone accepted an offer, showed up every day, and performed well, loyalty followed. Employees committed to companies
The Faster-Than-Expected Recovery Scenario
Most forecasts heading into 2026 point to a slow, steady rebound rather than a dramatic snapback. That remains the most likely base case. However, responsible planning requires acknowledging a
BLS Report – January 2026
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130k; unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January, and the
The New Definition of a “Safe Hire” in 2026
For decades, the definition of a “safe hire” was rooted in familiarity. Employers looked for candidates who had done the job before, followed a linear
BLS Report – December 2025
Both total nonfarm payroll employment (+50,000) and the unemployment rate (4.4 percent) changed little in December Both total nonfarm payroll employment (+50,000) and the unemployment
The Expectation Gap That Will Define Hiring in 2026
The Expectation Gap That Will Define Hiring in 2026: Why misaligned expectations – not candidate supply – are disrupting hiring outcomes In 2026, many hiring
The 2026 Hiring Playbook: What Smart Employers Are Doing Now
The 2026 Hiring Playbook: What Smart Employers Are Doing Now 2026 will not reward organizations that wait for perfect conditions. It will reward those that
BLS Report – November 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November(+64k); Unemployment rate changed little at 4.6 percent from September Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in November
BLS Report – September 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment edged up by 119k in September but has shown little change since April; Unemployment rate changed little at 4.4 percent Total
What Employers Should Expect from the Hiring Market in 2026 – Part II
What Employers Should Expect From the Hiring Market in 2026 PART II — The Faster-Than-Expected Recovery Scenario By XPG Recruit In Part I, we laid
What Employers Should Expect from the Hiring Market in 2026 – Part I
What Employers Should Expect From the Hiring Market in 2026 PART I By XPG Recruit – Recruiting That Gets It Right Setting the Scene We’re
The Hiring Pause, the Unemployed Gap, and How Candidates Can Bridge It
The Hiring Pause, the Unemployed Gap, and How Candidates Can Bridge It After publishing “The Quiet Squeeze: Why Companies Are Holding Back & What They
The Quiet Squeeze: Why Companies Are Holding Back & What They Must Do Now
The Quiet Squeeze: Why Companies Are Holding Back & What They Must Do Now The job market headlines lately tell one story: stagnant growth, cautious
Reading Into the Data When the Activity Tells a Different Story
Reading Into the Data When the Activity Tells a Different Story August’s jobs report painted a flat, uninspiring picture: just 22,000 jobs added and unemployment
BLS Report – August 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in August(+22k); Unemployment rate changed little at 4.3 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in August (+22,000) and
Labor Day 2025: Why Recruiting Is More Critical Than Ever
Labor Day 2025: Why Recruiting Is More Critical Than Ever Labor Day is here, which usually means cookouts, beach trips, and maybe one last summer
The LinkedIn Litmus Test: Are We Hiring the Profile or the Person?
The LinkedIn Litmus Test: Are We Hiring the Profile or the Person? We had a candidate we knew would be a slam-dunk placement. The candidate