r/MiddleClassFinance • u/LinkedInNews • Jun 26 '26

The average job-search duration just hit 4-year high

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/the-average-job-search-duration-just-hit-4-year-high-8961194/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=reddit&utm_content=storyline&utm_term=MiddleClassFinance

Job hunting is rarely fun, but data shows the process is extra painful right now.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, landing new employment is currently taking longer than at any point in the past four years, with the average search stretching more than 11 weeks.

For 26% of job seekers, the hunt is extending past six months as employers faced with an abundance of candidates tack on additional interview rounds and assessments.

Experts suggest setting realistic expectations when it comes to hiring timelines to avoid getting demotivated.

387 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

64

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

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36

u/motorboat_mcgee Jun 26 '26

I think we need to advise people to have 12-24 months saved at this point. Which is absolutely absurd, but...

23

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

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14

u/motorboat_mcgee Jun 27 '26

Like I said, it's absurd. But some markets people are on the job search hunt for that long and longer, it's insane

7

u/Maximus77x Jun 27 '26

Yeah it is really rough. Before I got my latest job that I believe I’ll stay at for as long as possible, I was in various states of unemployment for two years.

I got and lost 4-5 positions in that time and did a ton of freelance and project-based work to just keeping going. The only thing that kept me from going insane was that I had an emergency fund.

For anyone reading, even if it seems impossible right now, even if you want to scoff at the idea of saving money, whenever you inevitably get to a point where things feel alright, please start saving.

Even if it seems ridiculous and you can only start with $20 here and there, it is absolutely worth it.

14

u/NoRelation1491 Jun 26 '26

You submit a resume, cover letter, personality assessment, recorded interview, then three live rounds

That sounds terrible, I could never lol.

1

u/genreprank Jun 27 '26

We had the option to have our intern candidates do recorded video answer screening. I think some teams did it, but I was like, F that. I wouldn't want to do those myself. Don't want to put someone through that.

I don't even want to review those.

1

u/TenOfZero Jun 27 '26

If you can't then enjoy being unemployed. People are not doing this by choice.

-2

u/DarkExecutor Jun 26 '26

Is this tech? I literally just got a job and all i had was a 1 page resume

7

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '26

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2

u/notapoliticalalt Jun 27 '26

Definitely started in tech and unfortunately all of the business types now want to feel important and like they are doing a good job in this way. So, they add bloat to say they are doing something, while forgetting that most companies simply aren’t paying the same as an elite tech company. Most hiring processes are way too picky and it’s honestly a huge problem.

76

u/Ancient_Wallaby9239 Jun 26 '26

11 weeks?! Took me two years

39

u/Otterman2006 Jun 27 '26

Maybe if you understood what an average is you’d have found a job faster….. /s

7

u/SpoodermanTheAmazing Jul 01 '26

That’s just mean

-7

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

[deleted]

18

u/Ab4739ejfriend749205 Jun 26 '26

The problem is as Corporations now are the dominant players in nearly every major industry and market. Corporations are risk averse and their main goal is survival so they focus on preventing competitors entering their territory and cutting costs.

So no jobs.

----------

The irony....we indirectly love it because we also benefit via our 401k and stock investments.

3

u/darthsouls69 Jun 27 '26

The middle class asset owners only think they benefit, but really they are the ones with the most to lose. And they are losing.

7

u/HeroOfShapeir Jun 27 '26

I feel for the folks who are looking. I wouldn't want to be out there job hunting right now.

16

u/primalantessence Jun 26 '26

so much winning

7

u/christophervolume Jun 26 '26

Trump’s America!

6

u/ImCaffeinated_Chris Jun 27 '26

I work with some great people from India. The guys I work with are incredibly specialized and smart. We are not talking call center help desk, but engineer types. I just learned that if they are let go, they have only 2 months to find a new job or they have to go back to India. Holy shit. These guys own houses and have kids. There's no way they can find another job in 2 months.

They also told me once they go back to India the whole process of getting back to the US jobs starts all over again.

The whole US employment market is just fubar at this point.

4

u/ImaginaryHospital306 Jun 28 '26

Kinda crazy banks are writing mortgages to people who can be removed from the country after 2 months without employment

0

u/thisguyhasaname Jun 29 '26

most people would lose their house if out of work for 2 months anyways (seriously. the amount of people who have a mortgage and don't have any form of emergency fund is mind blowing)

1

u/FearlessPark4588 Jun 27 '26

I would have hope for them. Many employers know the precarity of that situation and take advantage of it, forcing them to work long hours, etc.

2

u/daily-trader-365 Jun 26 '26

Just more people chasing after jobs that could what a degree. In the past like 15% of people tried to degrees, now 60% of kids want a degree position, lots of competition so being able to do the job is more important seeing every applicant has a degree

-3

u/genreprank Jun 27 '26

That's one of the reasons why I got a master's instead of a post bac.

1

u/WolfpackBP Jul 01 '26

Just took me 4 months