JOB MARKET TRENDS UPDATE: What we see happening in December 2025.
December’s job market closed the year on a quiet note, with hiring easing across nearly all major categories. Month-on-month declines were expected given the seasonal slowdown, but the drop is a little steeper than usual – a sign employers maybe being conservative as they head into 2026?
Still, the year-on-year picture shows pockets of resilience, with Legal, CEO/GM and Sales remaining above December 2024 levels.
Overall, December reflects a labour market finding its floor, but not yet lifting off.
Total job ads snapshot
Nov 2025 → Dec 2025:
Declines across all categories except CEO/GM.
Dec 2024 → Dec 2025:
Mixed results – some mild gains, some softening, and one standout (Manufacturing & Transport).
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Accounting
5973 → 5083 (−15% MoM)
5277 → 5083 (−4% YoY)
Accounting saw a pronounced December slowdown, sharper than the typical year-end easing. Organisations pausing recruitment as they finalised budgets and delay any new financial hires. The year-on-year dip reinforces a year defined by tight, efficiency-focused finance teams rather than expansion.
Admin & Office Support
7885 → 6438 (−18% MoM)
6703 → 6438 (−4% YoY)
Admin has posted one of the steepest pullbacks. Employers are runnig leaner support structures, and December magnified this trend. Despite being one of the largest categories, Admin hiring has been consistently cool – a pattern unlikely to shift in this period of change.
Legal
2552 → 2125 (−17% MoM)
2165 → 2125 (−2% YoY)
After a strong November, Legal has also softened, but the year-on-year view still shows stability. This is one of the few professional categories that has maintained relatively strong underlying demand throughout 2025.
Human Resources
2648 → 2334 (−12% MoM)
2412 → 2334 (−3% YoY)
HR continues its cautious trend, broadly reflecting organisations are managing existing teams rather than growing them. Although declines aren’t dramatic, HR remains one of 2025’s clearest indicators of employer sentiment.
ICT
7351 → 6586 (−10% MoM)
6916 → 6586 (−5% YoY)
ICT dipped in December after November’s rebound, which is common for project-driven roles approaching a holiday shutdown. Year-on-year decline remains mild, suggesting tech demand is still resilient – but not accelerating.
CEO / General Management
555 → 435 (−22% MoM)
422 → 435 (+3% YoY)
Leadership hiring fell this month, but importantly, it is still above December 2024. With the dip mostly being attributed to seasonality, watch this space early quarter of 2026 for more on any long-term transformations.
Sales
6732 → 5478 (−19% MoM)
5335 → 5478 (+3% YoY)
Sales roles have dropped month-on-month, consistent with Q4 budget closures but still, Sales remains above 2024 levels which may suggest underlying demand remains healthy despite the seasonal pause.
Manufacturing & Transport
17245 → 13016 (−25% MoM)
5277 → 13016 (+147% YoY)
A very large month-on-month fall – maybe to be expected after November’s peak volume. Even after the drop, Manufacturing & Transport remains the biggest hiring category – lets see if this strong structural demand continues into 2026.
Insights & Takeaways
- A predictable but sharper-than-usual December slowdown
Every category declined except CEO/GM (YoY), with seasonal factors influencing behaviour more heavily than last year.
- Year-on-year stability despite month-on-month dips
Legal, Sales, and Leadership roles remain above Dec 2024 levels, indicating selective confidence.
- Support and people-focused roles continue to lag
Admin and HR have been consistent indicators of ongoing cost-control through 2025.
- Manufacturing & Transport remains structurally strong
Even after the December drop, the category is significantly higher than last year due to continued demand in logistics, fulfilment, and trades.
What This Means for Employers
- Prepare for a Q1
Most paused roles in December will re-emerge quickly in January/February.
- Get ahead in strategic categories
Legal, ICT, and CEO/GM talent will be competitive early in 2026.
- Don’t neglect Sales pipelines
With many employers moving ads off traditional platforms, partnering with recruiters ensures access to passive talent.
- Review support team structures now
Admin and HR remain lean – but demand for experienced staff often rises sharply after February.
Book your partnering strategy call early here
What This Means for Jobseekers
- Expect more movement, late January
December is quiet and not indicative of demand.
- Lean into strong categories
Legal, Sales, ICT, Manufacturing & Transport, and leadership roles will show the earliest signs of activity.
- Be prepared for competition in slower segments
Admin and HR applicants should focus on sharper résumés and clear, measurable achievements.
- Use the downtime
Networking, upskilling, and updating your profile now will set you ahead when the market reactivates.
Click for more on Career Resources Support
Bottom Line
December’s job market didn’t deliver the year-end lift we’d all like to see – but nor does it signal a downturn.
It reflects a familiar pattern: seasonality layered on top of an already cautious climate.
As we move into 2026, the real test will be whether Q1 brings renewed confidence. Employers and Job Seekers who prepare now will be positioned to take advantage of early opportunities as the market re-opens.
Employers planning early-2026 recruitment? Book your strategy chat.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author accepts no liability for any changes, loss, or damage arising from reliance on its content. Readers should seek independent legal advice and updates, before acting on any matter discussed in this document.