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
BLS Report – July 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in July(+73k); Unemployment rate changed little at 4.2 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in July (+73,000) and
The Real Return-to-Office Dilemma: Why Both Sides Are Frustrated – and What It Really Means
The Return-to-Office Tug-of-War: Finding Common Ground Let’s not sugarcoat it: the return-to-office (RTO) debate has become a game of tug-of-war. And right now, neither side
BLS Report – June 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 147K in June; Unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 147,000 in June,
BLS Report – May 2025
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 139K in May; Unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 139,000 in May,
Why Companies Are Losing Great Candidates — And How to Fix It
In today’s competitive hiring market, time is talent. At XPG Recruit, we work with companies across the U.S. to place top-tier staffing and recruiting professionals