From the April 11th episode of Talent Grind Live
The State of Play: April 2025
We're four months into 2025, and the job market continues to feel like we're "floating in the ether." That's not hyperbole—it's the reality facing both recruiters and job seekers as uncertainty grips corporate America.
During our latest Talent Grind Live conversation, Alex Mann and I dove deep into why this year has turned out to be more challenging than anyone anticipated. The numbers tell one story—unemployment sitting around 4%, jobs being added monthly—but anyone working in talent knows those statistics are missing the bigger picture.
The Freeze is Real
What's particularly striking is hearing from multiple sources that companies are freezing hiring entirely. Not just slowing down, not just being more selective—completely pausing recruitment efforts. This isn't limited to manufacturing or supply chain roles either. We're seeing this across software companies, consulting firms, and other white-collar sectors.
As Alex noted during our discussion, "People are just like not hiring 'cause of the uncertainty. Whether there's an impact or not, the impact of the uncertainty is people just going, you know what, we're not gonna hire for the time being and we're just gonna keep our head down."
The psychological impact of uncertainty often creates its own reality. Companies that might otherwise be growing are choosing to hunker down instead.
The Tariff Effect
The elephant in the room? Trade policy uncertainty. The Wall Street Journal captured it perfectly with their headline: "The US Economy is headed towards an uncomfortable summer." Companies are hitting pause on hiring and investment due to shifting tariff policies and trade uncertainty.
This creates a particularly frustrating situation where businesses hoped early 2025 would bring clarity—inflation defeated, election settled. Instead, we're seeing chaotic policy implementation that has corporate America "less sure about the future than ever."
What This Means for Your Career
If you're a senior professional struggling to find your next role, you're not alone, and it's not necessarily a reflection of your value. The market dynamics are simply broken right now.
Here's what I'm seeing work:
Build a Fractional Business: For senior professionals, this might be the perfect time to explore fractional work. Companies are more willing to "try before they buy" with consultants than commit to full-time hires. It's easier to add value as a consultant, build relationships, and potentially convert that into something more permanent when the market stabilizes.
Focus on AI and Emerging Tech: While traditional sectors are frozen, AI companies are still growing and looking for talent. If you're in technology, this sector continues to show signs of life.
Personal Brand Development: Now is the time to invest in your personal brand. The tools available today make it exponentially easier than even two years ago. What used to take weeks of intensive research and planning can now be done with AI assistance in days.
The Reality Check
Let's be honest about what that 4% unemployment number really means. It's not measuring people who've given up looking, people who are underemployed, or those driving for DoorDash or Lyft to make ends meet. The real number of people struggling in this job market is likely much higher—some estimates suggest closer to 25%.
For recruiters, this continues to be one of the most challenging periods in recent memory. March and April 2025 haven't brought the relief many hoped for. We're still in what feels like a washing machine cycle where "nobody can tell which way is up."
Looking Forward
The uncomfortable truth is that we're still waiting for that pressure relief valve to trigger. The market won't thaw until employers feel confident enough about the future to resume normal hiring patterns. Right now, that confidence simply isn't there.
But here's what I know: markets eventually normalize. Economic cycles complete. The question isn't whether this will end, but how prepared you'll be when it does.
This is the time to:
Build your network
Develop new skills
Create value wherever you can
Stay connected to your industry
The professionals who come out strongest from this period will be those who used the uncertainty as fuel for growth rather than paralysis.
Bottom Line
We're not just experiencing a typical economic downturn—we're navigating a period of fundamental uncertainty about trade, technology, and the future of work itself. The old playbooks don't apply.
But opportunity exists even in frozen markets. The key is recognizing that the rules of the game have changed and adapting accordingly.
Stay resilient. Stay creative. And remember—this too shall pass.
Michael Doran is the founder of Team Sourced and Talent Grind. If you're a senior professional interested in exploring fractional opportunities, reach out through michael@teamsourced.com.
Alex Mann is a sales growth expert. Learn more about him here.
This post is based on insights from Talent Grind Live, our weekly conversation about the future of talent and recruiting. Join us every week for unfiltered discussions about where this industry is heading on LinkedIn, Youtube and Facebook.
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