The Job Market Feels Heavy Right Now - But It’s Not as Dire as It Seems

I want to start with something heartfelt, because it matters. If you’ve been laid off, are job searching longer than expected, or feel discouraged by what you’re seeing online, I see you, and I understand. I’ve been in your shoes, and after 25+ years talking to resilience professionals through every market cycle, I know how stressful and isolating this season can feel. And in a year like 2025, full of hiring freezes, budget delays, and shifting work models, it’s understandable that many people feel anxious or even hopeless about their job prospects.

But I also need to gently share the truth I’ve learned from countless conversations with hiring managers, HR teams, and executives. The job market is not as bad as it seems. Not even close. There is a gap between perception and reality right now, and that gap is causing many resilience professionals to worry unnecessarily. Let’s talk about why.

Looking Back: How Today Really Compares to 2008–2010

Whenever someone asks me, “Is this the worst market you’ve seen?” my mind immediately goes back to the Great Recession.

2008–2010 was a truly painful employment period:

• U.S. unemployment peaked at 10%

• Companies froze hiring for years, not months

• Entire sectors collapsed

• Job postings evaporated

• My phone rang daily with candidates crying, terrified they would lose their homes or savings

• Highly skilled people went 6–12 months without even an interview

  
  

If you weren’t job hunting then, it’s hard to fully convey the weight of that era. By comparison, today’s market, even with its current challenges, is far stronger, more resilient, and more dynamic.

So Why Does It Feel So Bad?

Because today, we’re exposed to every story, every loss, and every moment of struggle in a very public way.

LinkedIn Amplifies Hurt

In 2008, layoffs were private. Today, they’re visible.

We see:

• “Open to Work” banners

• Layoff announcements

• Hundreds of comments offering support

• Emotional posts shared widely

  
  

Our brains absorb this repeated sadness as evidence of a collapsing market, even when the data doesn’t reflect that. And yet something else is happening, quietly. For every person who shares they’re looking for a new role, just as many post they’ve started a new job, but those posts don’t travel as far. Positive news doesn’t spread with the same emotional gravity as loss. That doesn’t mean the roles aren’t there. It just means the visibility has changed.

2025 Was Tough, But Not Recession-Level Tough

Yes, 2025 presented real challenges:

• Hiring freezes

• Budget stalls

• Delayed approvals

• Greater scrutiny on headcount

• Shifts from remote → hybrid

  
  

All of this slowed down hiring cycles and made job seekers feel stuck. But behind the scenes, something important was happening:

Resiliency Roles Were Still Being Protected

I spoke with many leaders this year who said things like:

• “This hire impacts our audit score; it must move forward.”

• “Our board is pushing us to mature the resiliency program.”

• “Risk, DR, crisis, and supplier resilience can’t be deprioritized.”

  
  

Even when organizations froze broader hiring, resilience roles often remained on the priority list because programs must meet regulatory, operational, and risk-reduction expectations.

The Real Frustration: Geography Shrinking the Opportunity Pool

The market itself hasn’t shrunk as much as access to roles has. Remote roles exploded between 2020–2023, giving candidates unprecedented flexibility.

Now:

• Hybrid work is the norm

• Leadership roles require in-person collaboration

• Some organizations want resilience leaders on site to lead exercises, meet executives, and build relationships

  
  

This shift has reduced the visible job pool, not because roles disappeared, but because location matters again. The job you could have applied to anywhere in the country in 2021 might now require a 30-mile commute. This doesn’t mean your dream role isn’t out there. It simply means the search is geographically narrower.

A Hopeful, Grounded Reality

I want you to hear this clearly: The job market is not collapsing. You are not facing the same conditions as 2008–2010. You are in a profession that remains essential and is becoming even more strategic.

Every week, I see:

• New roles opening

• Hiring managers pushing positions into Q1/Q2 2026

• Candidates accepting great offers

• Organizations prioritizing resilience as budgets unfreeze

  
  

Yes, the noise is loud. Yes, the uncertainty is draining. Yes, the job search is harder emotionally than it used to be. But no, the market is not broken.

To Every Resiliency Professional Searching Right Now

You’re not imagining the challenges. You’re not alone in feeling discouraged. And you’re not behind. The world is simply louder, more visible, and more emotionally amplified than it was 15 years ago. Stay hopeful. Stay patient. Stay connected. Your next opportunity is not as far away as it feels.

At Resilience360 Advisory, we help resilience professionals—whether in business continuity, IT disaster recovery, crisis management, cyber, or third-party/supplier resiliency—turn career aspirations into actionable results. With 25+ years of recruiting and coaching expertise, we provide tailored support that spans resume and LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, salary benchmarking, and compensation coaching. Our career services are designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re planning your next move, strengthening your leadership presence, or positioning yourself for long-term advancement. Beyond coaching, we also offer free resources such as our annual compensation report, monthly career insights, and Resilience Career Alerts to keep you connected to new opportunities across the profession.  Schedule a discovery call today at info@resilience360advisory.com.