Despite robust economic expansion, many Americans are struggling to find work in an increasingly puzzling labor market.
Jacob Trigg, a former tech project manager in Texas, has submitted over 2,000 applications without securing a full-time role.
U.S. job creation averaged just 15,000 positions monthly last year, even as GDP expanded at a strong 4.4% annual pace.
Economists describe the unusual mix of solid growth and weak hiring as rare over the past two decades.
Some analysts warn of emerging “jobless growth,” fueled by artificial intelligence and automation enabling firms to boost productivity with fewer workers.
Others cite pandemic-era overhiring, outsourcing, and tighter immigration policies as factors dampening new job openings.
Layoffs remain relatively contained, and unemployment holds near 4.3%, masking deeper strains in hiring activity.
While January’s stronger data offers hope, uncertainty over AI disruption, fiscal policy, and market risks clouds the outlook for job seekers.
