4. Issue of the Newsletter - The Job & Career Equation🧪
Half year is already gone - June 2025
Who is hiring?
The job market during the first half of 2025 has shown signs of instability, especially for new graduates, with indications of a slowdown in growth.
In May, the US economy added 139,000 jobs—slightly less than April’s 147,000 but still close to the annual average.
Unemployment for adults aged 22–27 increased to 5.8%, surpassing the national average of 4.2%.
While numerous sectors are experiencing a slowdown, the health care industry continues to spearhead job creation, contributing over 60,000 positions, which accounts for nearly 45% of the total job gains in May.
The leisure and hospitality sectors also experienced significant growth, adding 48,000 new jobs.
Nevertheless, uncertainty surrounding federal policies and changing tariffs is making employers cautious about hiring, particularly in the retail industry.
Despite a recent increase, consumer confidence remains low, raising fears of a potential recession.
Experts caution that the labour market may deteriorate soon and advise job seekers to start their search without delay.
Recruiters are now placing a high value on soft skills and proficiency in AI as essential qualities in candidates.
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In the first quarter of 2025, the employment rate in the EU for individuals aged 20 to 64 experienced a slight increase to 76.1%, up from 76.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with a total of 197.9 million people employed.
Labour market slack, which indicates unmet demand for work, rose marginally to 10.9%, impacting 23.6 million individuals.
Unemployment also saw a slight uptick to 5.7%, with 12.0 million people unemployed. Changes in employment rates varied by country.
Ireland (+0.9 percentage points), Italy (+0.7 percentage points), and several other nations reported significant increases, while Estonia (-0.5 percentage points), Romania, and Poland (-0.4 percentage points) faced declines.
Labour market slack increased in 14 countries, with the most notable rise in Latvia (+1.7 percentage points).
When analysed by gender, employment rates improved more for women (+0.2 percentage points) compared to men (+0.1 percentage points).
Ireland, Greece, and Cyprus were at the forefront of gains for women, while Czechia, Bulgaria, and Ireland led the way for men. Conversely, Poland and Luxembourg experienced the steepest declines in female employment (-0.7 percentage points), while Cyprus and Romania recorded the largest drops in male employment (-0.7 percentage points).
Despite a slight overall increase in labour underutilization, the specific categories—underemployed part-timers (2.3%), those available but not actively seeking work (2.3%), and those seeking work but unavailable (0.8%)—remained stable.
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Top hiring companies in the Pharmaceutical sector:
Explore the newest pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical research, and medical device companies that are recruiting in June 2025 on PharmiWeb.Jobs - the premier global job board for life sciences:
https://time.com/7291844/job-market-college-graduates-unemployment/
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=EU_labour_market_-_quarterly_statistics
https://www.pharmiweb.jobs/article/the-top-10-companies-hiring-in-june-2025
Top HR and work-related articles
Meta's recent decision to focus on "free expression" has resulted in a notable decrease in content removals on Facebook and Instagram.
Following the relaxation of its moderation policies in January, the company has indicated a 50% drop in incorrect content removals in the U.S., as detailed in its latest Community Standards Enforcement Report.
Even with these modifications, Meta asserts that users have not been widely exposed to increased harmful or offensive content, implying that the policy changes did not jeopardise the overall safety of the platform.
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This episode of Uncanny Valley delves into the detrimental effects of stringent immigration policies during the second Trump administration on Silicon Valley.
Initiatives like increased deportations, stricter scrutiny of H1-B visas, a nearly suspended asylum process, and new visa cancellations for certain Chinese students jeopardise the tech industry's ability to tap into global talent.
The hosts examine how these alterations might disrupt the talent pipeline and impede future innovation within the sector.
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Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, cautions that artificial intelligence is approaching human-level abilities and will introduce "frightening" transformations to the job market.
As a prominent leader in the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), Hassabis perceives AI as a unique disruption that could surpass human performance in nearly every task.
His perspective underscores the significant and possibly alarming effects AI could soon exert on the future of employment.
https://www.wired.com/story/meta-content-moderation-changes-decrease-removals/
https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-why-silicon-valley-needs-immigration/
https://www.wired.com/story/google-deepminds-ceo-demis-hassabis-thinks-ai-will-make-humans-less-selfish/
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Tips for CV making, job search, interviews, and career progression
Feeling anxious about beginning a new job is entirely natural.
Although a new position can offer growth and opportunities, it also brings along feelings of anxiety and fear, particularly during the job-hunting phase.
A survey by Monster revealed that the top fears among job seekers include interviewing (38%), getting lost in resume black holes (33%), negotiating salaries (16%), and facing rejection (13%).
Common fears consist of:
Feeling guilty about leaving your current employer – While loyalty is commendable, prioritising your career is essential; strive to perform your best until the very end.
Linking your identity to your current job – Keep in mind that you are more than just your job title; take time to consider your strengths and aspirations.
Worrying about disliking the new job – Research potential employers and engage with individuals in similar positions to alleviate your concerns.
Experiencing imposter syndrome – It's common to question your capabilities, but aligning job descriptions with your skills can enhance your confidence.
Feeling uneasy about being the “new kid", stepping out of your comfort zone can be challenging, but it is crucial for personal growth.
In the end, confronting these fears directly is vital for progressing in your career and achieving satisfaction.
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