The Q3 2025 Job Market: What's Hot and How to Get Hired

Healthcare and essential operations lead demand as secondary metros post quarter-over-quarter gains, according to Monster's Q3 2025 Market Report

GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Monster,^® a leading job search and online recruiting platform, today released its Q3 2025 Monster Market Report, offering a clear view of where employers are hiring now and how candidates can stand out. The report analyzes the top 10 job titles posted by employers, top job title searches by candidates, the five fastest-growing industries (≥10% quarter-over-quarter), and the 15 city-level hiring hot spots (≥7,000 unique postings).

"Job seekers still have opportunity, but they need to be targeted," said Vicki Salemi, Monster's career expert. "Hiring cycles are longer, so the candidates who highlight skills, proof of impact, and the right credentials will move first."

Key Findings

• Healthcare stays hot. Clinical roles lead posting volume and remain among the fastest-growing categories.
• Essential roles are resilient. Truck drivers, delivery drivers, sales representatives, and customer service representatives continue to hire, reflecting the need to move goods and retain customers.
• The great disconnect. Job seekers search heavily for software and data roles while employers prioritize healthcare, logistics, customer service, and sales.
• Geography is shifting. Some high-volume hubs cooled quarter-over-quarter, while secondary markets gained momentum.

Top Job Titles Posted by Employers  

1. Registered Nurse  (RN)
2. Physical Therapist  (PT)
3. Truck Driver
4. Sales Representative
5. Radiology Technician/Technologist
6. Speech-Language Pathologist  (SLP)
7. Delivery Driver
8. Respiratory Therapist
9. Occupational Therapist  (OT)
10. Customer Service Representative

The full report  includes "why it's hot" and "quick wins" for each role—actionable, 15–30-minute resume updates and talking points to boost callbacks.

Top Job Titles Searches by Candidates 

Interest from job seekers is highest in the following five categories. The full report includes specific job title searches. 

1. Software Engineering/Development 
2. Data & Analytics
3. Customer Service 
4. Administrative/Office Support
5. Warehouse & Logistics.

Top 5 Industries where Momentum is Building (≥10% QoQ)

Each of the industries below experienced at least 10% growth in job postings in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter. Themes include safety/compliance, revenue protection, persistent clinical staffing gaps, community support demand, and seasonal education hiring.

1. Protective Service
2. Sales
3. Healthcare Practitioners
4. Community & Social Service
5. Education & Training

Top 15 Geographic Hiring Hot Spots (ranked by QoQ growth)

Analyzed by city-level, each location had at least 7,000 unique job postings, with remote and multi-location listings excluded. 

1. Tacoma, WA
2. Asheville, NC
3. Charleston, SC
4. Colorado Springs, CO
5. Sacramento, CA
6. Indianapolis, IN
7. Spokane, WA
8. Fort Worth, TX
9. Atlanta, GA
10. Albany, NY
11. Cleveland, OH
12. Columbus, OH
13. Kansas City, MO
14. Salt Lake City, UT
15. Charlotte, NC

The majority of hiring leaders report longer time-to-hire than two years ago, so job seekers should continue to expect more steps and slower cycles. Visit the full report for the top 10 tips for job seekers heading into 2026.

Methodology
The Monster Market Report analyzes quarterly hiring activity using Monster's proprietary database of online job postings and candidate searches. This Q3 2025 edition compares employer and candidate activity between the second quarter (April–June) and the third quarter (July–September). 

For more information, please view the full report at https://www.monster.com/career-advice/job-search/news-and-insights/market-report-q3-2025.

About Monster
Monster  is a leading job search and online recruiting platform that helps people not just find jobs, but discover where they belong. For more than 30 years, Monster has been a trusted worldwide leader in connecting people and possibilities, empowering individuals to pursue opportunities while helping employers hire faster and with greater confidence. Recognized on G2 as a category leader and featured by CNN, USA Today, CNBC, Inc., and Forbes, Monster continues to open new doors for people and businesses everywhere. Follow Monster on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and Pinterest. Learn more at https://www.monster.com/.

SOURCE Monster