Letter to the Editor: The Talent Market Is Gaining Momentum

Note: this letter is in response to PageViews Issue 131 (member login required).

Thank you for summarizing the recent CCO Coffee Chat—there were valuable insights shared about today’s hiring landscape. However, as an executive recruiter, I see things a bit differently and feel compelled to offer an alternative perspective, particularly on the idea of a “shelter-in-place” mentality.

Yes, the recruiting market has seen its share of volatility in recent years, but from where I sit, the situation today is far more optimistic than the article suggests. In 2021 and 2022, we saw a hiring boom—positions were being created at an unprecedented pace, and opportunities were everywhere. HR leaders and executive recruiters alike were inundated.

Then came 2023. The brakes slammed on. Layoffs surged due to overhiring in prior years, and candidates understandably became cautious. If any year reflected a "shelter-in-place" mindset, it was 2023.

By late 2024, however, things began to shift. While I anticipated Q1 of 2025 to be especially active, the election cycle tempered some of that momentum as companies paused to focus on other priorities. But since March, the floodgates have opened. From my vantage point, the market is now buzzing. I’m seeing more roles than in the past two years combined, and candidates—who were once hesitant—are now picking up the phone and exploring new opportunities.

Most of the searches my team and I are leading are for newly created positions or efforts to uplevel existing functions—clear signs of organizational investment and growth. While the influx of talented communicators on the market may give the impression that opportunities are scarce, the truth is, demand is returning—and it's strong.

In short, this may be one of the most promising seasons we’ve had for communicators in quite some time. Competitive, but promising.