Welcome back to The Recruiting Radar!

Hiring cooled slightly in May, but opportunities are still heating up across key sectors. In this edition of The Recruiting Radar, we’re breaking down the latest jobs report, highlighting what’s trending with our LinkedIn audience, and sharing new resources to help you hire smarter, or land your next role faster. Whether you're scaling a team or navigating a job search, this month's insights will help you stay one step ahead. 

📊 Industry Insights:   

May Jobs Report 

The latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed modest growth across the labor market in May. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 139,000, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. 

Healthcare, hospitality, and social assistance led the charge, with healthcare alone adding 62,000 jobs—well above its 12-month average. Growth in this sector was driven by gains in hospitals, ambulatory care, and skilled nursing facilities. Meanwhile, leisure and hospitality saw a continued boost, adding 48,000 jobs, primarily in food services and bars. Social assistance also posted a steady increase (+16,000), with most gains in family and individual services. 

One area of concern: federal government employment dropped by 22,000 jobs and has now declined by 59,000 since the start of the year. Other industries, including financial activities, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, construction, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, and tech-related services, showed little change over the month. 

Wages continued to climb, with average hourly earnings up $0.15 to $36.24, reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year increase. The average workweek remained unchanged at 34.3 hours. Overall, while growth isn’t explosive, the steady pace and continued gains in key service sectors suggest a resilient labor market. As we head into summer, employers and job seekers alike can remain cautiously optimistic about what’s ahead. 

May Poll Results 

Each month, we check in with our 340K+ LinkedIn followers to see what’s top of mind in today’s workplace. In May, we dug into job offer priorities, resume must-haves, confidence boosters, and underrated career habits. Here’s what stood out: 

• What Job Seekers Want Most: We asked: If you could negotiate one job offer perk, what would it be? The overwhelming majority (66%) chose remote work or flexible hours—confirming that flexibility still reigns. Signing bonuses (17%) and extra PTO (12%) were distant seconds, with only 5% opting for a learning and development budget.  

• The Standout in Job Listings: Professionals know what grabs their attention. Transparent salary info was the top vote at 44%, followed by remote work options (31%). While company culture (16%) and career growth paths (9%) are important, it’s clear that clarity and flexibility are leading factors in job ad engagement. 

• Underrated Career Strengths: When it comes to success at work, 44% said listening is the most underrated skill. Adaptability came next at 27%, followed by empathy (17%) and time management (12%). These results reinforce the value of soft skills that don’t always show up on a resume—but make all the difference.  

• Productivity Hacks That Stick: We asked which habit has most improved your productivity. Task prioritization took the lead with 42% of the votes, followed by time blocking (22%). Saying “no” (21%) and taking real breaks (16%) also proved powerful—showing that smart boundaries and structure both drive results.  

• What Builds Confidence at Work: Supportive leadership makes a difference. Over half (54%) said having a supportive manager or team boosts their confidence at work. Clear goals and feedback (34%) followed, while ongoing learning (7%) and strong routines (5%) were less common—but still valuable for growth.  

Thanks to everyone who voted! Keep an eye on our LinkedIn page each week for new polls and insights—your voice helps us better understand what today’s professionals value most. 

📚 Recruiting Resources 

From emerging tech in healthcare to scalable hiring strategies and hot job market trends, May’s blogs were packed with insights for employers and job seekers alike. Here’s what we covered:

Healthcare Tech Trends Driving the Future of Hiring 

AI-powered diagnostics, digital health apps, and remote care innovations are changing what employers need from talent in healthcare. This blog dives into how the tech transformation is reshaping hiring—from new skill sets to stronger demand for hybrid expertise. 

See what's shaping the future. 

How to Build a Scalable Hiring Process (Without Burning Out Your HR Team) 

Growth is exciting—until your team is overwhelmed with open roles and reactive recruiting. This guide breaks down how to streamline your hiring strategy, reduce time-to-fill, and build a scalable process that supports long-term success. 

Find out more here. 

Hot Markets & Hot Jobs: Fastest Growing Industries of 2025 

We closed out the month with a breakdown of the industries experiencing the biggest hiring surges this year. From clean energy and cybersecurity to AI, logistics, and advanced manufacturing, this post highlights what’s driving demand—and where the top opportunities are. If you’re hiring or job hunting, this is your cheat sheet. 

See what's hot here. 

💡Featured Guides 

From location insights to who we are as a firm, our latest guides were all about helping professionals and businesses make smarter moves. ICYMI, here’s what we shared in May: 

Top 10 U.S. Cities for Data Center & AI Infrastructure Jobs: As demand for AI and digital infrastructure skyrockets, so does the need for talent in data-driven industries. This quick-read guide highlights the best cities for job seekers and employers in the AI and data center space, with insights on where innovation is booming and hiring is hot. Check out the list here. 

Why Choose Blue Signal Search? What sets us apart in the recruiting world? This post breaks it down—covering our values, results, and why companies partner with us to hire top talent across high-growth industries. Whether you’re hiring or job searching, this is a great place to learn what #HireBlue is all about. Read the guide here. 

📺Resume and Career Services YouTube Library

Our sister company, Resume and Career Services, has a YouTube library full of practical tips to help you stay competitive in today’s job market. This month’s featured video is packed with actionable tips to help you build the right connections and get noticed. 

️▶️ This Month's Featured Video: Best Places to Network as a Job Seeker 

Resumes and interviews get your foot in the door, but networking is what really opens it. In this video, we cover the best places to grow your professional circle—whether you prefer in-person events, virtual meetups, or casual connections. From industry groups and job fairs to social settings and online platforms, you’ll walk away with ideas you can put into practice today. Watch now! 

🔥 Hot Job Openings 

1. Marketing and Design Specialist 
2. Controller 
3. VP of Tower Construction - Cellular, Wireless 
4. Worker's Compensation Attorney 
5. National Business Development Manager 
6. Chief Executive Officer – Clean Energy Technology Leader   
7. Federal Sales Manager – Law Enforcement Solutions   
8. BAS Estimator – Building Automation & Controls 
9. VP of Operations 
10. Financial Manager, FP&A 

Discover exciting career opportunities across diverse industries on our job board! 

Closing out May 

As we close out this edition of The Recruiting Radar, we’re already looking ahead to what’s next in 2025. At Blue Signal, we remain committed to guiding you through the job market's latest trends and opportunities. With a team of specialized recruiters and a wealth of resources, we're here to support your career goals and staffing needs. We're excited to keep sharing insights, opportunities, and advice to guide you. Don't miss out on future updates—make sure to subscribe and join us on this journey toward success. 

Need help finding talent? Reach out today! 

Stay Connected: 

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