""We're seeing more decisions being made out of necessity," said ZipRecruiter Labor Economist Nicole Bachaud. "What we're seeing is that with the challenges of this market, how difficult it is to secure even that first offer. There has been a kind of pullback from workers feeling that they have the power to negotiate.""
""Those who did negotiate got a better deal, often higher base pay, which may suggest that some job seekers are leaving money on the table.""
"Over a fourth (27%) of new hires took a pay cut, often after an extended period of unemployment, and only 56% increased their pay, down from 61% from last quarter. Benefits suffered too, with only 15% of new hires receiving a signing bonus last quarter, the lowest rate of 2025."
Many new hires are taking pay cuts and avoiding negotiation amid a tight labor market and rising long-term unemployment. Fifty-three percent of new hires found jobs within one month. Twenty-seven percent accepted pay cuts, often after extended unemployment, and only 56% saw pay increases, down from 61% the prior quarter. Signing bonuses fell to 15%, the lowest rate of 2025. Only 30.4% of new hires negotiated offers; those who negotiated frequently secured higher base pay. Long-term unemployment rose over 15% year-over-year in November, and just 50,000 jobs were added in December.
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