6 Future Job Market Trends to Watch Out for in 2025

1. More competition for remote work

The battle against remote work is still raging. While remote work was more widely adopted out of necessity during the pandemic, many employers have since ordered employees to return to the office. 

Some have offered flexible work arrangements, such as a hybrid work environment where employees come into the office a few days per week and work at home the rest of the time. 

But one of the persistent job trends of the future is more competition for remote work. These coveted positions are in high demand but with limited availability. 

Remote jobs in the U.S. lowered by 9% between January 2022 and December 2023, according to the 2024 Global State of Remote and Hybrid Work report by LinkedIn. The report found that only 10% of job listings were remote yet received 46% of all job applications as of December 2023. 

So if you’re looking for remote-only positions, expect higher competition. To help boost your chances, learn in-demand skills (hard and soft skills) and craft your resume to match the needs of remote job descriptions.

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2. Rise of AI and automation

There’s a lot of concern around the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation displacing workers and human labor. ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have been both widely lauded and feared. Regardless of your stance, these tools have significant implications for the labor market. 

3. Increasing demand for green jobs

Preserving the environment and combating climate change are pivotal issues right now, and the market for green initiatives is growing rapidly. Various industries are working to become more environmentally friendly, such as the auto industry. 

You know the industry is growing because there are tax credits available for consumers who buy new clean vehicles.

Renewable energy is focused on using the power of solar and wind for sustainable agriculture, waste management and more—leading to new job creation. The clean energy industry is in demand. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act helps consumers with energy costs while creating jobs in clean energy.  But there is a lack of workers who have the specialized skills needed for these positions, according to Quartz. If you have an interest in sustainability, clean energy, and helping the environment and are willing to learn, there is an increase in demand for green jobs. 

In 2022, clean energy jobs rose in all states leading to a 3.9% increase and an addition of 114,000 jobs, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). This made up more than 40% of total employment in energy jobs. Additionally, sustainability roles represented three of the top fastest-growing job postings on LinkedIn in recent years.

Green jobs are hot (and can hopefully help the planet avoid getting hotter). If you’re passionate about sustainability, best time to apply for jobs that align with your values could be now.

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4. Tech volatility causes more job movement

Tech giants like Google and Amazon have ushered in the new year with mass layoffs. If you’re in tech, you may be worried about about your job stability 

The job market in 2025 could include an increase in tech layoffs, but it’s not all bad news. Given the trend toward AI and automation, other positions like AI prompt engineers will help rise to the occasion. Tech employees may also find other sectors may need their skills and abilities. According to Kyle Samuels, founder and CEO of Creative Talent Endeavors:

“This year we're expecting to see a rise in technical roles at traditionally non-technical companies. With the rapid onset of AI, non-technical businesses like the food industry, and non-technical departments, are all looking for ways to inject AI into their operations.” More and more we are seeing these businesses come to us looking for people with AI experience or to run a new AI department. As layoffs at large tech companies continue, we'd expect to see many of those laid-off employees land in senior-level roles at non-technical companies."

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5. DEI cutbacks (and consequences) 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion also known as DEI is facing cutbacks that don’t seem poised to change in 2025. Many of the programs implemented in 2020 are gone or going.

Slashes to DEI programs can affect company culture and also employees and job seekers. Advocates of DEI programs may look for other job opportunities elsewhere. According to Daniela Herrera, founding partner and advisor of Advocacy and Awareness at Allies in Recruiting:

“While some companies will continue to defund and cut their DEI efforts and commitments, job seekers will continue to prioritize companies with Inclusive Hiring practices, psychologically safe work environments, and equitable processes and systems.”

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6. Focus on employee wellness 

Pandemics. Protests. Wars. Violence. You’re probably aware of how difficult the past few years have been. All of these events have taken a collective toll on our mental health and physical health. 

And you know what’s hard to do if you’re dealing with mental health struggles or physical ailments? Work and be a productive employee. 

So one of the key trends you can expect to see is a focus on employee wellness. Employers and Human Resources departments who want to attract the best employees will invest in this area as part of their talent management strategy. A report by Mercer found that 64% of organizations surveyed plan to enhance their health and well-being offerings. Employees will also seek out more companies that prioritize wellness and work-life balance. 

According to Travis Lindemoen, founder at Enjoy Mondays, a job matching platform:

“The focus on employee well-being will intensify. Companies will prioritize initiatives that promote mental health, work-life balance, and overall well-being to attract and retain talent.”

Based on these six key trends, you can get an idea of where the future of work is headed. Make sure you have the skills required to stay relevant in today’s job market. 

For those dealing with unemployment, the gig economy and freelancing can offer some job opportunities in the meantime. There are many different career paths to take and if you have extra time, you might get clarity about what you really want.

Related: Learn more about AI, the rising gig economy, and seven other 2025 workplace trends.

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Fill in any skills gaps 

Look at your current skill set and take an inventory. Then think of where you want to go with your career. What skills might you be missing? What things can be improved upon? Commit to lifelong learning and upskilling. 

For example, you can take an online class through Coursera or LinkedIn Learning or learn how to code through Code Academy. You can also check out books from the library, and attend workshops providing training, or college classes to bridge skills gaps and learn new skills. 

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Keep networking 

You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s popular because it’s true. “Your network is your net worth.” Not exactly, but it’s important to land a job. Figuring out how to job search is an art and the right person can help you in your job search by making the right introduction. 

Think of it as a way to practice your social skills, cultivate your emotional intelligence, and even open up job opportunities. You might feel like it’s cringey to ask or put yourself out there, but if you approach it with humility and commit to learning something from everyone and return the favor where you can, it becomes a lot easier, and effective. You can focus on in-person events and digital marketing using social media channels like LinkedIn.

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