7 Job Market Predictions for 2018

The holidays have come and gone, which can only mean one thing: the new year is right around the corner. As 2018 approaches, it can help to take a look at what the job market will be like, whether you're an employer who is looking to staff a company or a job seeker who wants to find the best position available. Here are some important predictions for the year ahead, each of which will impact the job marketing in a significant way.

1. A Tight Labor Market

The unemployment rate is currently extremely low. In fact, in October, unemployment was as low as 4.1 percent --which is the lowest it's been since 2000. This means that hiring will be extremely hard whether you're hiring to address turnover or retirements.

2. Hiring of College Graduates

In the year to come, employers will hire 4 percent more brand new college graduates than they did last year. That's good news for the class of 2018.

3. The Unemployed or Underemployed

According to experts, there's currently a low labor force participation rate, which means that a lot of people actually aren't working or looking for work. This will continue as 2018 rolls around, and many of the unemployed people will remain unemployed or underemployed, which will make hiring even harder than before.

4. Tech Jobs Available

There will be a great demand for technology skills in the coming year, p articularly when it comes to the ability to develop mobile apps. According to mobile app development expert Arnab Sarkar, this is a list of some of the skills that will be most in demand throughout 2018:

• Test Driven Development
• Mobile App Security
• Scripting Languages
• Robotic Applications
• Big Data Applications
• Cloud-Based Mobile Apps
• Swift Programming
• Enterprise App Development
• Beacon Technology for iOS

5. Robots Will Create New Jobs

For years, people have worried that robots will replace humans in the job market t hanks to the rapid and advanced development of AI. Luckily, though, in 2018, while ro bots will take over some of the more humdrum and menial tasks, they'll actually create more work for humans. Some ex perts predict that the use of robots, particularly in manufacturing and industrial sectors, wil l create close to 15 million new jobs for people monitoring, maintaining, and controlling the robots and more.

6. The Workforce Will Continue to Be Remote

For years, the remote workforce has been growing. More and more people are working from the comfort of home offices, shared co-working spaces, and coffee shops. In the coming year, a growing number of people will begin to work remotely -- which means that employers can hire qualified candidates from all over the world regardless of their geographic location.

7. Millennials Will Prefer Personalization

More and more millennials are entering the workforce, and this on-demand generation prefers personalized treatment. Millennials will shy away from companies that recruit remotely using only technology, and they'll be pulled toward organizations that use real humans and personal touches to draw them in.

If you need help in your career search or you are looking to fill open positions in your company in the year to come, get in touch with Micro Tech Staffing Group. We can help you find the best candidates to fill open job slots or available positions that match your skill set and experience so you can continue to thrive in the year to come.