Headlines suggest a cooling job market, but the story becomes more interesting once you delve into the data and consider its implications for your next move. Host Pete Newsome opens with the latest numbers on job postings sliding toward pre-pandemic levels and wage growth lagging inflation, then uses regional snapshots: California, Washington State, and DC vs. Idaho and Tennessee, to frame where the pain is sharpest and where resilience still shows up. 

Along the way, Pete tackles the debate everyone keeps having: is AI driving layoffs, or is it a convenient cover for cost-cutting? You’ll hear where he lands and why the answer probably isn’t binary.

Conflicting reports make the job market murky: Indeed points to slower wage growth, while Glassdoor shows a stronger pace and an uptick in “layoff” mentions across reviews. Pete explains how source differences influence conclusions and how declining employee confidence shifts the balance of power back in favor of employers. That shift shows up in offer acceptance behavior and negotiation dynamics, with a practical lens on what’s real versus what’s a data quirk. If you hire, you’ll get a candid take on how to reduce early turnover, be radically honest about the most complex parts of the job, and set clear expectations so new hires don’t bail at day 89.

There is momentum in flexible and independent work. Pete spotlights a surge in contract and freelance hiring, especially in customer support, e-commerce, creative, and technical roles. He also shares the top AI-linked skills employers want right now, including Python, machine learning, AI-generated video, design tools, JavaScript, and content writing, proving that human creativity, paired with innovative tools, beats automation alone. For candidates, we make the case for contract-to-hire as a strategic path to stable roles and faster impact. For leaders, he offers a playbook for hiring better in a tight, uncertain market: align pay to reality, move faster, and present the full picture of the role.

News Articles:
1. Upwork Monthly Hiring Report: https://www.upwork.com/research/monthly-hiring-report-october-2025
2. October jobs report: Glassdoor data during the shutdown: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/glassdoor-alternative-jobs-report-october-2025/
3. Job Postings Erode as Government Shutdown Continues: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/11/06/job-postings-erode-as-government-shutdown-continues/

 💬  What do you think: Is this the start of a long-term shift toward freelance and contract work?

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