Here's what to know about the job market this week — and other happenings in the world of work

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Catch up on other headlines from the last 7 days.

• Hybrid roles are getting harder to come by for job seekers — and some fast-growing roles could have more flexibility than others. Read more about this below.
• The number of Americans filing for continued unemployment benefits climbed to 1.9 million last week — the highest in more than three years. The increase in ongoing claims suggests jobless people are struggling to find new positions. Weekly claims data is volatile, however — the overall labor market, while weaker than in early 2023, hasn’t experienced enough constriction to risk “an economy-wide recession,” per Barrons. ??Laura Entis
• Consumer sentiment dipped this month. American consumers are growing more worried about unemployment and inflation, according to data from the University of Michigan, which showed its sentiment index hitting a six-month low in January. Per the survey, consumers believe costs will climb 3.3% over the next year; meanwhile 47% anticipate that unemployment will rise. Despite a resilient labor market, it’s started to take longer for jobless Americans to find work. ??Laura Entis
• Home sales hit a 30-year low in 2024, according to the National Association of Realtors. Total annual purchases of existing homes slowed to just 4.06 million, as the median home price reached a record $407,500, and mortgage rates peaked at 7.22%. But there was some recovery in December, with sales rising 2.2% from the prior month, as job and wage growth, along with more inventory, helped stabilize the market.??Rob Sacks
• This year's World Economic Forum gathering in Davos came to a close with a focus on AI. Tech executives from Salesforce, Intel and Workday have used the event to tout their latest artificial intelligence offerings. CEOs from the world's largest banks have discussed the regulatory environment and cryptocurrencies. Combating climate change also remained a focus of the event. ??Cate Chapman
• Pay is deterring male teachers. The number of men teaching in U.S. public schools has dwindled from one in three in the 1970s and '80s to less than one in four now, based on the latest federal data. It notes that pay is a key factor, since male teachers typically make about $65,000, one-third less than college-educated males' $95,000. This so-called "teacher pay penalty" also affects women, though that still-hefty $12,000 disparity is smaller. ??Jake Perez

Take a closer look at recent trending topics — and engage with meaningful conversations happening on LinkedIn.

The state of flex work

• The return-to-office push isn't deterring U.S. workers from seeking flexibility. LinkedIn data shows that remote and hybrid job postings receive more applications than onsite roles on the platform. It underscores that job seekers are still hoping to own their schedules, even if such arrangements are harder to come by these days. LinkedIn data also shows that the share of remote job postings has been falling since 2022. Hybrid roles, however, have been gaining steam. So where are the pockets of opportunity?
• LinkedIn's Jobs on the Rise list, released this month, is an annual ranking of the 25 fastest-growing job titles over the past three years and shows that certain roles might offer more work-from-home days than others. Consider grants consultant positions — the vast majority of those job postings are for hybrid roles. These professionals help organizations identify and secure funding opportunities. Land agents, who negotiate and manage property transactions and land usage, also have an above average share of hybrid work available. Research librarian, workforce development manager and treasury manager roles are also more likely than other professions to have hybrid offerings. You can check out open roles — and flex work availability — for all 25 Jobs on the Rise here.
• "This year, trends like hybrid work, the rise of AI in decision-making, and a growing emphasis on employee well-being and psychological safety will redefine how teams collaborate and thrive," leadership coach Sean Glaze said of the findings. He recommended executives looking to build "resilient, high-performing teams" lean into flexibility to "inspire trust, empathy and ownership" among employees.

The workers most likely to be job hunting

• About half of Americans say they are planning to look for a new job this year, regardless of if that job is remote, hybrid or onsite. New findings from LinkedIn's Workforce Confidence survey show that those with certain job functions are even more likely to say so.?
• Professionals employed in arts and design are most likely to be on the job hunt right now, followed by those working in military and protective services, marketing, media, administrative services and human resources. Meanwhile, those working in legal and real estate roles were among the least likely to say they are looking to switch jobs this year.
• Those on the move are potentially motivated by the prospect of a larger paycheck. Separate Workforce Confidence findings show that just 43% of U.S. employees, regardless of profession, anticipate a pay raise anytime soon. Adria Firestone, a career coach who previously pivoted out of the arts, shared job seekers should also be seeking purpose. When weighing a career move, she recommends clients ask themselves: "Does this role allow me to express my authentic self? Will it support my long-term vision, not just my immediate needs?'"

HR leaders choosing AI over hiring

• Younger workers, in particular, could be having a difficult time job hunting these days. A new survey from Hult International Business School and research firm Workplace Intelligence found that the vast majority of HR leaders said they are struggling to find the right talent (98%), but also avoiding hiring recent graduates (89%).
• Leaders point to recent graduates lacking experience, the right skill set and business etiquette. The solution? Nearly four in 10 would rather have a robot or AI do entry-level work over recent graduates. Experts warn traditional education needs to shift to prioritize workforce readiness and address this.?
• Dan Schawbel, a managing partner at Workplace Intelligence, shared: "A staggering 77% of recent graduates reported learning more in just six months at their job than during their entire four years of college," Dan Schawbel, a managing partner at Workplace Intelligence, shared. "This revelation highlights the practical shortcomings of traditional curriculums in preparing students for real-world challenges — graduates often find themselves thrust into situations requiring hands-on problem solving, a skill often underdeveloped during their academic journey."

Get ready for the week by seeing what’s coming up.

Monday, January 27:

• The U.S. Census Bureau will release key housing market indicators, including the number of new single-family homes sold and the number of new building permits issued by the government in December.

Tuesday, January 28:

• The U.S. Census Bureau will release its monthly report on durable goods orders, which measures manufacturing activity.
• The Conference Board will release its monthly Consumer Confidence Survey, which measures how optimistic Americans are about the economy.

Wednesday, January 29:

• The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will meet to set interest rates.

Thursday, January 30:

• The U.S. Department of Labor will release initial jobless claims for the previous week. The report, a proxy for layoffs, tracks the number of people filing for unemployment benefits.
• The Bureau of Economic Analysis will release a preliminary gross domestic product reading for the fourth quarter.

Friday, January 31:

• The U.S. Department of Commerce will release December’s Personal Consumption Expenditure Price Index — the Fed’s preferred inflation measure. The report measures changes in the price of goods and services, excluding food and energy.