Welcome back to The Recruiting Radar!

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, this edition of The Recruiting Radar recaps key trends and resources from December to help you gear up for a successful year ahead. In this issue, we reflect on how professionals and businesses closed out 2024 with insights from our polls, highlight tech trends shaping the workforce in 2025, and share a curated library of top certifications to inspire your career goals for the new year. Plus, we explore whether upgrading to LinkedIn Premium is worth it for your job search.??

Let’s dive into December’s highlights and start 2025 with purpose and momentum!?

?? Industry Insights:

December Jobs Report?

The final?Employment Situation Report of 2024 highlights continued growth in the labor market, with total nonfarm payroll employment rising by 256,000 in December. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%. Employment gains were driven by health care, retail trade, government, and social assistance.?

Healthcare led the way with 46,000 new jobs, particularly in home healthcare services (+15,000), nursing and residential care facilities (+14,000), and hospitals (+12,000). Retail trade rebounded from November’s losses, adding 43,000 jobs across clothing, general merchandise, and health and personal care retailers. Government employment also trended upward, with 33,000 new jobs, primarily in state government. Social assistance saw an increase of 23,000 jobs, largely in individual and family services. Industries such as mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; information; financial activities; professional and business services; and other services showed little change over the month.?

Average hourly earnings rose by 0.3% to $35.69, reflecting a 3.9% increase over the past year. Meanwhile, the average workweek remained unchanged at 34.3 hours for the fifth consecutive month. Revisions to prior months adjusted November’s job growth down to 212,000, with a net decrease of 8,000 jobs across October and November. As we step into 2025, these figures highlight steady yet slowing growth in the labor market, offering valuable insights for businesses and job seekers alike. ?

December Poll Results?

With a community of over 300K+ followers on LinkedIn, we closed out the year by reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead to 2025. From productivity strategies to job hunting advice, your insights helped us uncover valuable trends and close the year on a thoughtful note. Here’s what we learned:

• If Santa could bring one gift to make your job even better, what would it be???A 4-day workweek topped the wish list at 39%, followed closely by remote or hybrid options at 33%. Career growth opportunities came in at 24%, while 5% of you asked for better tools or technology to get the job done. View the poll here.?
• Is December a good time to job hunt??The majority of respondents (48%) believe December is the perfect time to stand out, while 29% said it depends on the roles available. Meanwhile, 17% are waiting for January, and 7% aren’t currently looking. These results show that the job market doesn’t slow down for the holidays! View the poll here.?
• If your career had an annual highlight reel like Spotify Wrapped, what would be your top stat of the year??Reflecting on the year, 35% of you celebrated completed projects, 26% measured success in cups of coffee consumed, and emails sent and meetings attended tied at 19% each. What a way to wrap up 2024! View the poll here.?
• What’s your approach to the final week of the year??As the year came to a close, most of you were already planning ahead—44% said they were focused on preparing for 2025. Meanwhile, 19% wrapped up loose ends, 23% took it easy, and 14% embraced the out-of-office life. View the poll here.?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! Stay tuned for more engaging polls as we kick off 2025. Your input drives the content we create and keeps us connected to the latest workplace trends!?

?? Recruiting Resources:?

Explore December’s top resources, packed with insights to help both hiring managers and job seekers stay ahead in today’s evolving job market:?

Technology Trends Shaping the Workforce in 2025?

The future is here—technology is reshaping industries and transforming the way we work. This blog dives into the key tech trends to watch, from AI-driven hiring tools to automation in daily operations. Whether you’re an employer or a professional, these insights will help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving workforce.?

Read the full article here.?

How to Choose a Staffing Agency?

Overwhelmed by staffing options? You’re not alone. The right partner can make all the difference in simplifying your hiring process and growing your team with the right people. Our guide breaks it all down, check it out at the link below.?

Read the full guide here.?

?? Top Certifications to Elevate Your Career ?

As we begin the new year, we thought it’d be nice to sprinkle in a little inspiration for your 2025 career goals. Certifications can be a great way to sharpen your skills, stand out in your industry, or take that next step toward something bigger. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite resources highlighting top certifications across a variety of industries:?

• Leadership Certifications?
• Cybersecurity Certifications?
• Accounting Certifications?
• Sales Certifications?
• HR Certifications?
• IT Certifications?

We hope this serves as a helpful resource to jumpstart your new year with fresh ideas and actionable goals. Have a skill or industry you’d like us to cover in the future? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear your suggestions. Here’s to making 2025 your best year yet!?

?? Resume & Career Services YouTube Library?

Looking to kick off the year with the right tools for career success? Check out the valuable content on our sister company's Youtube channel, Resume and Career Services. Here, you’ll find featured videos packed with expert tips and guidance to help advance your career.?

?? This Month's Featured Video: Is It Worth It to Pay for LinkedIn??

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for job seekers, but is upgrading to a premium membership worth the investment? This video breaks down the key features of free and paid memberships, offering insights to help you decide if LinkedIn Premium aligns with your career goals. From networking tips to job posting insights, learn how to get the most ROI from your LinkedIn strategy — watch now!?

?? Hot Job Openings?

1. Treasury Manager?
2. Medical Claims Analyst???
3. Litigation Attorney?
4. National Business Development Manager?
5. VP of Sales - Thermoforming Division?
6. Development Lead???
7. Senior Corporate Services Representative?
8. Electrical Business Development Manager (Construction)?
9. Electronic Hardware Engineer???
10. Senior Satellite Bus Consultant?

Discover exciting career opportunities across diverse industries on our job board!?

??? Reminder: 1 Week to Vote!?

We are excited to share that Blue Signal has been nominated for Forbes America's Best Recruiting Firms 2025 in all three categories: Executive Search, Professional Search, and Temporary Staffing. This marks our third year in a row being recognized for this prestigious honor! ???

At Blue Signal, our mission is driven by our core values:

?? Be Excellent – Delivering unmatched quality in connecting talent with opportunity.?

? Do the Right Thing – Acting with integrity and building trust with clients and candidates.?

?? Help Others – Changing lives and businesses for the better, one placement at a time.?

This recognition wouldn’t be possible without the trust and partnership of our amazing clients, candidates, and network. If we’ve made an impact on your business or career, we’d be incredibly grateful for your vote to help us achieve this milestone again.?

?? Voting Ends January 17th???

How to vote for us:??

1. Register to vote using your business email or LinkedIn profile URL at: https://www.statista.com/page/best-recruiting-firms??
2. Check your email for the link to complete the survey. (Make sure to check the SPAM/JUNK folder - the subject line will be “America's Best Recruiting Firms 2025 - Invitation to a Survey by Forbes and Statista).??

Your support means the world to us, and this recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with you. Thank you for supporting our mission to make meaningful connections and drive success for businesses and professionals alike!?

Wrapping Up 2024?

As we wrap up the year and this edition of The Recruiting Radar, we're already looking ahead. At Blue Signal, we remain committed to guiding you through the job market's latest trends and opportunities. With a team of specialized recruiters and a wealth of resources, we're here to support your career goals and staffing needs. We're excited to keep sharing insights, opportunities, and advice to guide you. Don't miss out on future updates—make sure to subscribe and join us on this journey toward success.?

Need help finding talent? Reach out today!?

Stay Connected:?

For a front-row seat to the latest recruiting trends and hot job listings, follow our company page on LinkedIn! Share the power of knowledge by forwarding this newsletter to your network, ensuring they too benefit from our insights.??

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We Value Your Feedback:?

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