According to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The U.S. added 143,000 jobs this past January and the unemployment rate dropped to 4%; a solid start to 2025.

So, what does this mean for you as a hiring manager or recruiter?

Well, the job market is cooling off…but that doesn’t mean hiring is necessarily getting easier. Top candidates are still out there—but they’re being pickier. And if your hiring process is slow, clunky, or full of hoops to jump through, they’re moving on before you even get a chance to interview them.

The 2025 Hiring Challenge

Here’s the deal:

• Companies are still hiring, but more carefully. Budgets are tight, and everyone wants to make sure they’re bringing in the right people.
• Candidates have options. Even with a slower job market, top talent is choosing where they want to work, not just taking the first offer.
• Speed matters more than ever. If your hiring process drags, you’re losing great people to faster-moving companies.

How to Stay Ahead?

This is where Wedge changes the game. If you’re still doing endless phone screens and battling with schedules just to meet candidates, you’re stuck in the past. With one-way video interviews, you can:

✅ Screen candidates on your time. No more back-and-forth emails. Just send a link and watch their responses when it works for you.

✅ Move faster than your competition. When others are still scheduling first-round calls, you’ll already know who’s worth moving forward.

✅ Make hiring more human. Resumes don’t tell the full story. Video interviews give you a real feel for candidate personalities before you even meet them.

Bottom Line: Hiring This Year Is All About Efficiency

The job market is shifting, but smart hiring never goes out of style. If you want to cut through the noise, attract the best talent, and fill roles faster, it’s time to ditch outdated hiring processes.

Let Wedge help you work smarter—because the best candidates aren’t going to wait around.

👉 See how Wedge makes hiring faster and easier: www.wedgehr.com

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