Collectively, Bullhorn’s newest Hiring Outlook and Job Market Tendencies August knowledge paints an image of an uneven hiring market.
Everlasting hiring stays resilient whereas short-term job orders are slowing. Most industries noticed fewer job openings in August, however manufacturing and building had been the exceptions to that pattern. Inside these rising sectors, roles like drivers, mechanics, manufacturing employees, and non-residential building staff are seeing the strongest demand.
Throughout the broader market, employers are additionally shifting what they prioritize. Analytical considering and management are rising as the highest abilities employers are looking for, and compensation is rising quickest in building, engineering, and warehouse roles.
For staffing leaders, August’s knowledge factors to the place hiring demand is clustering and the place the chance is heading into This fall.
Everlasting hiring holds up as short-term hiring slows
Our knowledge reveals a transparent distinction between everlasting and short-term hiring. Whereas everlasting job orders had been largely unchanged from July, when it 12 months over 12 months, the everlasting pipeline is almost 11% above August 2025.
Everlasting hiring could have plateaued, nevertheless it hasn’t misplaced floor. With the pipeline nonetheless almost 11% above final 12 months, firms proceed to point out a willingness to rent everlasting expertise regardless of a extra cautious market.
The everlasting fill fee additionally remained sturdy. It was 7% greater than final 12 months and returned to the identical stage as July. Submissions per order had been unchanged, exhibiting that the variety of candidate submissions per opening remained regular.
Non permanent job orders moved within the different course, falling 4% in August, which is a barely bigger decline than the standard late-summer dip. The change stands out as a result of short-term job orders had been operating 4% to five% above final 12 months for many of 2026.
Even with the August decline, short-term job orders had been nonetheless 1% above August 2025. So whereas short-term hiring misplaced a few of its momentum through the month, exercise remained barely forward of final 12 months.
Recruiter exercise remained regular all through August, with the recruiter effort index, short-term fill fee, and submissions per order all holding flat. The soundness suggests recruiters are sustaining productiveness and placement effectivity regardless of broader indicators of softness within the short-term hiring market.
Job openings gradual throughout most industries, whereas manufacturing and building develop
The broader job market knowledge reveals one other layer of change. After stronger job-opening exercise in July, most industries noticed fewer job openings in August, with many barely under final 12 months.
However the slowdown isn’t broad-based: manufacturing and building continued so as to add job openings, signaling that demand is shifting towards industries tied to bodily infrastructure and funding. Inside these industries, the strongest demand was concentrated in non-residential building and hands-on business roles akin to drivers, mechanics, and manufacturing employees. The continued energy in these industries additionally aligns with the speedy buildout of AI knowledge facilities, suggesting that AI’s influence on hiring is extending past tech roles to the employees wanted to construct and function the infrastructure behind it.
The sorts of abilities showing in job openings additionally shifted in August. Analytical considering and management had been among the many high abilities employers had been on the lookout for. This represents a shift from earlier months, when private traits akin to trustworthiness and friendliness had been extra outstanding.
The shift suggests employers are putting higher emphasis on demonstrable, job-specific capabilities as they outline what they want from their workforce. Private traits stay essential, however the August knowledge factors to a rising deal with abilities that instantly translate to problem-solving, decision-making, and efficiency on the job.
Wage development additionally diversified by job class. Development, engineering, and warehouse roles had been amongst these with the fastest-growing salaries in August. Administration and authorized roles additionally noticed rising compensation.
The overlap between rising demand and rising pay is especially notable in building and engineering. It suggests employers in these fields are competing extra aggressively for expertise as hiring demand stays sturdy, whereas wage development in warehouse roles factors to continued strain for staff in hands-on, operational positions.
What staffing leaders ought to watch subsequent
Heading into the autumn, the strongest areas of momentum are manufacturing and building, notably non-residential building and hands-on roles akin to drivers, mechanics, and manufacturing employees.
For staffing leaders, the following few months will present whether or not these pockets of development will broaden outdoors of those rising industries or stay concentrated in a smaller group.
Examine again with Bullhorn Insights in the beginning of every month for the newest Hiring Outlook and Job Market Tendencies knowledge that can assist you keep forward of the market.
