Economists and career experts were still determining labor market stability in 2022. Inflation and interest rates soared while stocks plummeted, yet the labor market remained steady. So what can we expect from the job market in 2023?

Amidst the strong labor market, companies found themselves in competition for talent. At the same time, trends like quiet quitting and the The Great Resignation made way for employees to make more demands.

At the same time, reports of rampant hiring freezes and layoffs are leaving many workers nervous. People who left their jobs are now worried about keeping their new positions. Other workers are wondering if 2023 is the right time to switch careers.

The question remains: Is it the employers, or the employees, who will have control of the labor market this year?

The Truth: There Will Be Continued Uncertainty About the Labor Market

Making accurate predictions at the beginning of the year is difficult. But one thing economists can predict is how the American labor market will continue to be hard to define in simple terms.

The global economy is still rocky due to rising interest rates, inflation, and the persistent threat of a recession. As a result, many major corporations continue to announce layoffs and hiring freezes.

But by December last year, unemployment rates were reported to reach lows that were only seen before the pandemic. What makes the American labor market robust while the Federal Reserve continues its efforts to slow the economy?

To understand why the labor market contradicts economic uncertainty, it’s important to understand the cause. Americans typically understand the economy in terms of labor. If the economy is strong, then so is the job market. When the economy is struggling, workers are anxious to keep their jobs.

But the pandemic threw a wrench in this kind of black-and-white thinking. This year, experts are exploring other reasons for inflation. For instance, the global economy is still battling supply chain issues. Other countries’ economies are also slowing partly due to their political upheavals.

When you consider the American economy on a global scale, it’s easier to understand how our labor market remains strong. Economic strategists and policymakers must reconsider how they combat inflation when rising costs aren’t due to tight labor markets.

Predicting 2023 Job Market Trends and Shifts in the Workplace

Because some corporations are now implementing mass layoffs and hiring freezes, other forward-thinking firms will be eager to grab newly available top talent.

And with a healthy but unpredictable labor market, workers are eager to make their moves before the economy takes a more definite downturn. For unsatisfied employees, it’s better to switch jobs now than to be stuck in unfulfilling jobs indefinitely.

For these reasons, employers in 2023 will not only be concerned about hiring top talent, but about retention. What will employers need to do to keep their top talent from taking advantage of a slowly tightening market? And what should workers seeking new employment look for in potential new employers?

2023 Job Market Trend: Upskilling and Internal Mobility

Upskilling has long been a goal for many employers, and 2023 will be the year leaders start taking internal mobility more seriously to keep retention strong. Even if promotions and pay raises aren’t in the budget, workers are eager to advance their skills. As a result, leaders will be more willing to promote continuous learning by offering more courses, certifications, and other professional development tools.

Looking ahead, corporations are committed to investing in upskilling programs that meet their current and future needs. Upskilling not only fills in current gaps but also helps businesses avoid recruitment costs. It can also create a more solid succession plan, increasing retention rates when high potential, high performers can see a path forward.

More importantly, upskilling current workers gives corporations a competitive edge in a strong labor market. Employers are investing in long-term goals and ways to be a more attractive choice for job seekers. Top talented professionals tend to look for companies that are willing to invest in the career growth of their employees.

A New Work Week in the 2023 Workplace

After working remotely for years during the pandemic afforded individuals more work/life balance, professionals are now seeking more flexibility when it comes to the criteria they look for in their future employers.

This is another rising labor market trend to keep an eye out for in 2023, flexibility. While this could be hybrid work schedules or working remotely, more leaders are also taking a serious look at the four-day work week. The four-day work week includes working 40 hours within four days, allowing for three full days off.

The idea behind the four-day workweek is similar to the goal of hybrid work models. Employers want to keep their workers satisfied by offering more flexibility. Employees who have more free time tend to be more productive with their work time.

The four-day workweek also opens the potential for lower turnover rates, higher productivity, less distraction and absences, and an overall increase in morale. The four-day workweek model has been so successful that many workers who are working this schedule currently claim they’ll never return to working five days unless given a significant pay raise.

Job Searching and Resume Building in the 2023 Labor Market

Despite the resilience of the current labor market, there is still a strong possibility for employers to gain the upper hand in 2023. There is much top talent in the pool, making the market strong but competitive.

Job seekers will need to be more strategic in their job search methods. It’s no longer enough to send the same resume to as many open positions as possible. In 2023, resume and professional brand optimization will be much more critical.

Job seekers might see fewer open positions this year, and there might be more competition, but they can still find incredible opportunities by focusing on specific employers and using their networks to their advantage. Virtual networking tools like LinkedIn will have more activity as professionals start to understand the value of being the thought leaders of their industries.

Kara Dennison - Full Article Here