Job posting site Indeed.com is reporting new data that shows what many job seekers have felt, there are 20 percent fewer job openings posted now compared to a year ago.
Indeed’s data shows 2020’s job posting trends were on track until about March 15, and then plunged to a low point in early May. On May 1 of this year, there were almost 40 percent fewer open jobs listed compared to May 1, 2019.
The job market has shown positive signs in the last few months, with increases in the number of open jobs actively recruiting in June and July, according to Indeed. In the beginning of August, there were 18 percent fewer job postings compared to a year ago, and by the end of August, that spread had grown to 20 percent fewer job postings.
Not surprisingly, job postings for hospitality and tourism-related jobs are seeing the biggest decline. Open jobs in these fields are still down more than 47 percent compared to the same time period in 2019. Postings are also down in higher-wage areas, too, including software development and banking/finance by about 30 percent.
The sectors that are hiring, and have open job postings comparable to last year, include construction, loading/stocking, retail, and driving jobs.
Indeed also found job postings are down only 11 percent year-over-year in smaller metro areas, compared to being down 29 percent in larger cities.
A drop in job postings is hitting cities across the country. In the U.S., job postings are down the most in Honolulu, San Jose, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
