Author: April Ogden, Founder and CEO, It’s Your Outcome

The truth about Who’s Still Getting Hired in 2025

The job market is shifting — and not in ways most people are prepared for.

This breakdown was first shared in my Career360 Brief, a weekly LinkedIn newsletter where I unpack what’s reallyhappening behind the scenes.

I’m bringing it here to It’s Your Outcome because this isn’t just about hiring freezes, ghost jobs, or layoffs — it’s about what to do now, and how to move forward with strategy when the market goes quiet.

Career360 Weekly Brief

 

Week of April 14, 2025

 

Hiring Freezes, Tech Cuts, and What That Silence Might Really Mean

🧭 What’s Really Going On Out There

You’re applying. Updating your résumé. Doing all the “right” things.

And still — nothing. Crickets.

Here’s the truth: this job market doesn’t look like the one you remember.

But if no one’s telling you what’s actually going on, how are you supposed to keep up?

You don’t need more job listings — you need better alignment.

This week, I’m breaking down what’s shifting behind the scenes — and how smart professionals are adjusting.

📉 Federal Hiring: First It Was Paused — Now It’s Been Extended

Back in January, a temporary federal hiring freeze was introduced.

It was originally set to end in April 2025 — but has now been extended through July 15, 2025.

Most agencies are limited to hiring one person for every four who leave, with exceptions for national security and public safety.

But federal jobs haven’t disappeared.

And if a federal career is your goal, I encourage you to apply — strategically.

✅ Target agencies with active hiring

✅ Use the language from the KSAs

✅ Tailor your résumé — federal and private résumés are not the same

📌 Why it still matters: Federal careers offer purpose, strong benefits, and long-term career potential.

This is a moment to be focused — not frozen.

🔗 Explore USAJOBS.gov

🔗 Source – whitehouse.gov

📁 What’s Going On With These Federal Job Reclassifications?

Alongside the freeze, about 50,000 federal jobs are being moved into a new category: “Schedule Policy/Career.”

The goal: increase flexibility in hiring and managing roles.

But many are concerned about:

• Easier dismissal processes
• Fewer civil service protections
• More uncertainty in long-term employment

These concerns are real. But this is still a wait-and-see moment, not a reason to back down.

🧠 Did You Know?

 

Even during the freeze, many of my clients are still securing offers.

We’re being selective. Strategic. Targeted. And it’s working.

🔗 Source – whitehouse.gov

📉 Tech Layoffs Continue — and People Are Concerned

Google. Meta. Microsoft. Amazon.

 

Thousands of jobs are being cut. Roles redefined. Teams restructured.

Here’s what I’m hearing from mid-career professionals:

💬 “I’ve been loyal — now I feel invisible.”

💬 “I’m being replaced by someone younger, cheaper, or outsourced.”

💬 “Even with experience, I’m not getting callbacks.”

 

Whether or not you believe all of this to be true — these are real concerns.

 

And they’re creating hesitation around applying to tech.

But let’s be clear — tech isn’t off limits.

 

Career360 Insight:

 

Tech companies are still hiring. But they’re being more selective — and subtle.

✅ Focus on your outcomes, not your job titles

✅ Align your brand with current industry needs

✅ Highlight adaptability, systems thinking, and cross-functional leadership

📌 The companies that are hiring quietly are still investing in AI, cloud, logistics, health tech, and workforce experience.

 

This is not the time to play small — it’s the time to pivot smart.

🔗 Source – TechCrunch

📈 Healthcare Is Hiring — and It’s More Than Clinical

In March, 54,000 healthcare jobs were added — and most weren’t for doctors or nurses.

There’s growing demand for people who can:

• Manage operations and data
• Coordinate staffing and workflow
• Support digital upgrades and scheduling systems

📌 Why it matters:

 

You don’t need a medical background.
If you’ve worked in logistics, scheduling, customer service, or support roles, you’re likely already qualified.

Bonus? These jobs often come with strong benefits, job security, and clear career paths.

🔗 Source – BLS

🏭 Manufacturing Is Growing — But There’s a Gap

Manufacturing is projected to create 3.8 million jobs by 2033.

But here’s the issue: Gen Z isn’t filling those roles.

 

Interest in manufacturing is low — and the workforce is aging fast.

That’s where mid-career talent comes in.

These companies need:

• Operations leads
• Team supervisors
• Problem solvers who can lead systems and structure on the floor

📌 Why it matters:

 

These jobs pay well, offer growth, and don’t require a degree to get started.

Many employers offer training and clear pathways into leadership.

 

Career360 Insight:

 

This sector is looking for maturity, experience, and dependability.

That sounds like you — not someone fresh out of college.

🔗 Source – Fortune

🎓 STEM + Education Roles Are Opening Through Apprenticeships

Yes, there are shortages. But instead of waiting, school systems are retraining and rehiring in new ways.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Districts are using apprenticeship-based models
• They’re hiring people without education degrees — and training them
• They’re filling roles in STEM, special education, IT, and digital learning

📌 Why it matters:

 

If you’ve worked in tech, science, or math — there’s space for you.

And you don’t have to start as a full-time teacher.

Career360 Insight:

 

Education is building new bridges. You just need to know where they lead.

🔗 Source – EdWeek

🧠 Did You Know?

 

22% of job listings in 2024 were never meant to be filled.

 

Some were outdated. Some were just to collect résumés. Some were never open to begin with.

I recently wrote about this because too many job seekers are wasting time on listings that were never real.

When you know how to spot them, you stop wasting time — and start applying where it counts.

📖 Read the newsletter article: Why Some Jobs Are Never Meant to Be Filled

 

Career360 Insight:

 

✅ Always check the original posting on the employer’s careers page

✅ Be cautious if it hasn’t been updated in 30+ days

✅ And trust your gut — if it feels off, it probably is

 

Don’t chase ghost jobs.

🌐 Want to Work Remotely? Here’s Where to Start

Looking for flexibility — but tired of scammy posts or ghost listings?

In a recent blog, I broke down the 5 platforms that consistently post real remote roles and how to navigate them:

📖 How to Find Remote Jobs in 2025: 5 Sites That Work

 

You’ll learn:

• Where actual remote jobs are hiding
• Which filters attract the right opportunities
• What to avoid so you don’t waste time

📌 If remote work is part of your plan, this helps you go after it with clarity — not guesswork.

🧭 Not Actively Looking? This Still Matters.

Maybe you’re not job hunting right now.

You feel stable. Things are okay — for now.

But change doesn’t always give notice.

• Your company may be shifting quietly
• Promotions, restructures, and cutbacks are already happening behind the scenes
• And the best time to be ready is before you need to be

 

Career360 Insight:

 

Even if you’re not applying, you should always be positioning.

Update your résumé. Know your story. Be the person who’s ready — not the one who’s caught off guard.

✨ #AskAprilO

Q: “April, I’ve been working 15+ years. With hiring freezes, layoffs, and silence — is now even a good time to make a move?”

 

A: It feels like a bad time.

But it’s actually the right time — if you move with intention.

Don’t apply everywhere.

Apply where momentum exists.

Don’t rely on your résumé alone. Lead with the value you bring today.

I’ve coached thousands of professionals through hiring freezes, pivots, and career resets.

The ones who move forward?

They move on purpose.

🔁 This Week’s Challenge

Pick one sector from this list:

• Healthcare
• Logistics
• Education
• Manufacturing
• Federal (be strategic)

Then:

1. Find a job you’d actually want
2. Identify one transferrable skill you bring
3. Update your résumé or headline to reflect it

💡 Bonus: Message someone at that company. Learn. Connect. Then apply with purpose.

🧭 April’s Final Word

You’re not behind — you’re just waiting on direction.

And that direction doesn’t come from job boards. It comes from clarity.

This week, don’t try harder.

Try smarter.

 

Apply less. Align more.

Because your next opportunity isn’t about luck — it’s about intention.

👩🏽‍💼 About the Author

April Ogden is an executive career and leadership consultant and founder of It’s Your Outcome.

She helps professionals over 40 stop playing small, align their careers with their strengths, and finally get the clarity they’ve been craving.

📅 Ready to work together?

 

Book a 30-minute consult here