The Blubber

55% of unemployed adults are burned out from searching for a new job , per Insight.


One major factor could be the cooling labor market.

"There's less urgency on the part of employers," noted Peter Cappelli, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "If you're a job seeker, you would prefer employers to be more urgent because it would mean more opportunities."

Some analysts suggest this shift could also be attributed to job seekers' expectations.

"People's perceptions of the job market are influenced by their recent experiences," explained Zhao. "In 2021 and 2022, there were labor shortages, so employers were offering various perks and benefits to attract workers. Even though 2024 is showing signs of a relatively healthy labor market compared to recent years, it doesn't feel as strong."

Throughout 2023, U.S. employers hired an additional 2.7 million workers, according to government figures. Unemployment dropped to a 54-year low of 3.4% in January 2023 and only slightly rose to 3.7% by December.

"The labor market has been robust and surprisingly resilient," said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at Glassdoor. "Especially after 2023, when there were concerns about layoffs and predictions of a recession."