June 2025

Uptick in optimism  📈 

In a potentially promising sign for summer hiring, CEOs and small business leaders reported feeling more positive about economic conditions this month.  

• Small business optimism bounced back from a four-month decline to reflect slightly better than average confidence in the economy, according to the latest report by the National Federation of Independent Businesses.    

• CEOs were feeling slightly more upbeat about the business outlook for the U.S. in June, with some leaders expressing confidence that recent economic turbulence will stabilize within the next year.    

• Both measures were characterized as cautiously optimistic, but if confidence continues to improve, it could signal a warmer hiring environment coming this summer.  

Boomerang hiring circles back🪃 

• The U.S. workforce is largely staying put, but one set of employees is on the move: those who are returning to previous employers after time away. 

• In March, boomerang employees made up 35% of new hires, up from 31% a year earlier, according to ADP Research. 

• There are several reasons employers might be eager to rehire former employees: They already know the company, are familiar with the corporate culture, and will likely require less onboarding to get back up to speed. 

Job market by the numbers 💼 

• U.S. payrolls increased by 139,000 in May, edging out economists' predictions of 125,000. Professional and business services jobs decreased by 18,000.  

• The overall unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, while the rate for college grads bumped up to 2.6%.  

• The jobs numbers for March and April were adjusted, showing 95,000 fewer total jobs than originally reported.  

• The number of people quitting their jobs fell slightly, while layoffs and firings increased a bit, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey report. 

Hiring is taking longer ⏳   

A striking 93% of hiring managers said the hiring process takes longer today than it did two years ago. One key reason: In today’s market, where organizations have less margin for error, hiring mistakes can be detrimental to team morale and future growth. Though hiring managers in today’s market are being very cautious, 30% admitted to making a hiring mistake recently. 

Some ideas to streamline hiring and avoid missteps:  

• Establish a schedule: Before posting a job, establish clear timelines for each stage of the process. Then stick to them. 

• Leverage contract talent: If your organization currently has a fear of commitment, consider bringing in specialized contract professionals to bridge skills gaps and keep projects on track until you’re ready for a full-time hire. 

• Partner with a staffing firm: Hi, it’s us. Collaborating with an experienced talent solutions firm can fast-forward your hiring process and expand your access to candidates with the skills you need.  

The rise of conscious unbossing 👩💼

• A majority of workers (54%) in a recent Robert Half survey said they would turn down a promotion to management. Another 31% said they would accept a promotion, but only to a role that does not directly manage people. This recent phenomenon is being referred to as “conscious unbossing.”   

• For many employees, work-life balance is a significant part of the equation when deciding whether to take on the responsibility of managing others. Other factors include a lack of clarity on what career advancement looks like at their company, and insufficient training and support around skills needed to succeed as a manager.    

• "In today’s workforce, organizations shouldn’t assume that top performers are automatically interested in management roles," said Ash Athawale, senior vice president of the executive search practice at Robert Half. "Companies should recognize that employees have different goals and try to create paths for those who may not be interested in managing others."  

Hot take: Take a break this summer 😎 

With more than a third of professionals feeling burned out, we could all use a reminder to take a break. Encouraging your direct reports to take their PTO (and setting an example yourself) is key to keeping teams happy and productive over the long term. If you’re concerned about projects stalling, it may be time to consider contract talent (and you already know we can help you out there).