August 13, 2025
Marketplace recently published an article featuring Andrey Fradkin, Associate Professor of Marketing, discussing the shifting dynamics of the U.S. labor market.
Job growth is slowing, postings on sites like Indeed and LinkedIn are down, and business demand in some sectors is cooling. While that’s a challenge for online job platforms, employers who are hiring now – like salons, are seeing stronger applicant pools and less competition for talent. Platforms such as Handshake are pivoting by courting smaller businesses, expanding beyond college graduates, and even selling human expertise to train AI models, a venture that could become a major revenue stream.
At the same time, job applications are surging, and companies are finding new ways to monetize job seekers through paid upgrades like LinkedIn Premium or Indeed Pro. Fradkin notes this trend reflects growing pressure on applicants:
“Job seekers are actually going to be willing to pay more because they’re really going to be desperate for a job. There are fewer jobs to go around,” Fradkin adds.
With competition this fierce, many workers are lowering salary expectations, and even those who resist paying for premium tools may reconsider as the search drags on.
