RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Job openings in the Triangle are low for this time of year, according to the most recent edition of the WRAL TechWire Jobs Report.
The exclusive WRAL TechWire Jobs Report aggregates data from 20 location-based job board searches. This week, the report shows a total of 224,247 active listings (not accounting for post duplications), a 37% decline from this time last year.
One local recruitment expert shared her opinion on why numbers are so low.
“Many companies are hesitant to open new roles with the uncertainty of the current market,” said Sarah Finnerty, Senior Client Director at Kelaca, in an exclusive interview with WRAL TechWire.
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In addition to her role at Kelaca, a recruiting firm headquartered in Raleigh, Finnerty is the VP of Employment Services at the American Marketing Association (AMA) of the Triangle.
She told me that, based on her conversations in the Triangle, there’s also hesitation on the employee side.
“Passive candidates are hesitant to leave the roles they have for the unknown,” said Finnerty.
Hesitant unless they can get at least $78k, according to one study.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that the median minimum salary that Americans would be willing to accept for a new job, known as the “average reservation wage,” is slightly below $80,000.
The study looked at data from the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations for July 2023, which indicated a significant increase in the wage floor for individuals in the United States, rising by $6,000 from last year to reach $78,645 this year.
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I asked Finnerty what advice she gives to job seekers in this climate, and she said—network.
“At this time, it is more important than ever to network and ask for what you need,” said Finnerty. “I find that people really do want to help you — you just have to know what your ask is.”
Which is sound advice, considering 85% of jobs are filled through networking and personal connections, according to a study shared earlier this year by Zippa.
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JOBS REPORT FOR WEEK OF August 28, 2023
Here’s a look at the numbers for this week:
OTHER RESOURCES TO FIND TRIANGLE JOB POSTINGS
Below, we’ve gathered the latest upcoming job fairs, student-centric resources, and a list of Twitter accounts that track local job openings. If you’re a student looking for an internship or entry-level position at a local company or organization, your university has resources to help you get started. Quick links below:
- Duke University: Career Hub
- Durham Technical Community College: College Central Network
- NC Central University: Career and Professional Development Center
- NC State University: Centennial Campus Job Board, Career Development Center and Jobs at NCSU
- UNC Chapel Hill: University Career Services and Careers at Carolina
- Wake Technical Community College: College Central Network and Career and Employment Resources
For Johnston County job seekers: The recently launched JoCo Careers website helps job seekers find companies hiring in Johnston County. (More TechWire coverage here.)
LOOK FOR TRIANGLE JOB POSTINGS ON THESE TWITTER ACCOUNTS
Here are some locally run Twitter accounts that regularly share job openings in the Triangle:
