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The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises

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Job seekers are worried that Trump’s tariff policy chaos is hurting their chances in the labor market

Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
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Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 27, 2025, 8:18 AM ET
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Job seekers say uncertainty around Trump’s trade policies are making the process more difficult. Getty Images

Good morning!

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With flip-flopping trade policies dominating the news cycle, job seekers are stressed about how they could impact their ability to get a job. 

More than a third of people looking for work (35%) say they expect tariffs to make it more challenging for them to land a job, according to ZipRecruiter’s latest Job Seeker Confidence Index. Additionally, about a third (32%) say this is because they’ve observed fewer job postings and a slow down in companies hiring. And the number who say hiring slowed goes up to 50% for those in the logistics industry, 39% for those in tech, and 38% in manufacturing.

Even though unemployment overall currently remains low, and the U.S. and China cut a deal earlier this month lowering a 145% tariff down to a more manageable 30%, workers have reason to feel anxious about their future hiring prospects. Companies have already had to lay off workers as a direct result of these trade policies. And experts have previously told Fortune that continued uncertainty about the economy could lead employers to hold off on hiring. 

Earlier career employees say tariffs are impacting their career prospects the most, according to the ZipRecruiter report. And employees overall are concerned that Trump’s trade policies will require them to make a major career shift moving forward. Nearly half (47%) say they’re looking to switch industries altogether due to tariffs, and which rises to 61% of workers in tech and manufacturing.

It’s important to note that job seekers’ assessment of the current labor market is actually better than it was earlier this year, up around 3.1 percentage points, according to the survey. But the confidence that the same group has for the future is on the decline; job seekers now believe that there will be fewer jobs six months from now then there are today.

“For job seekers, times of macroeconomic uncertainty like this are when they should stay consistent and proactive in pursuing interesting positions—because new opportunities may not come about on the timeline they have in mind,” says ZipRecruiter president Dave Travers.

Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com

Around the Table

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

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During the switch to remote work, white-collar employees experienced a world of work without office etiquette, and now, some say, it’s time to bring it back. New York Magazine

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Everything you need to know from Fortune.

More diversity. To make it more ethical and less toxic, the gaming industry needs more women, executives say. —Sydney Lake

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Sensoring communication. Microsoft employees discovered that email messages mentioning ‘Palestine,’ ‘Gaza,’ or ‘genocide’ were being blocked. —Beatrice Nolan

This is the web version of Fortune CHRO, a newsletter focusing on helping HR executives navigate the needs of the workplace. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.
About the Author
Brit Morse
By Brit MorseLeadership Reporter
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Brit Morse is a former Leadership reporter at Fortune, covering workplace trends and the C-suite. She also writes CHRO Daily, Fortune’s flagship newsletter for HR professionals and corporate leaders.

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