Exclusive jobs data across a variety of industries
As your trusted staffing partner, PeopleReady is dedicated to providing you with the information you need to make smart decisions and stay ahead in your staffing efforts. Our new workforce data report is designed to give your business a clear understanding of the hiring market in the second half of the year.
Since the publication of our 2023 report, covering July to December, the hiring market has presented significant challenges across many sectors, reflecting ongoing economic concerns. Despite these difficulties, select areas are showing promising signs of growth and increased demand for job seekers.
“It appears that things are holding steady despite the continued economic uncertainty,” says PeopleReady VP of Strategic Sales and Enablement Jennifer Fisher. “Several key roles remain in high demand, and certain industries like hospitality are seeing a slight uptick after being stagnant or declining since the pandemic. As we head into 2024’s second half, we’re hopeful. Ultimately, having a flexible staffing plan is important to navigate this environment.”
So, what jobs will be in demand during the second half of 2024? PeopleReady has compiled 2024 jobs numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics along with hiring data across a variety of industries. Our report includes a summary of industry employment, wage information and jobs to watch in the coming months.
Jobs Added
2.61 million
year over year
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
4.1%
up from 3.6% in June 2023
WAGE CHANGE
3.9%
year over year
2024 jobs data for key industries
What jobs are in demand? Jump to an industry by clicking a button below.
Construction
Total employment as of June 2024: 8.25 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 3.3%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 125,000
Job postings in 2024: 433,000
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $38.15 ⇧ 2.3% YoY
CONSTRUCTION JOBS TO WATCH
CARPENTERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 24,711
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 24%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $25.54
CONSTRUCTION LABORERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 54,242
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 9%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $19.51
ELECTRICIANS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 35,412
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 4%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $31.20
Manufacturing
Total employment as of June 2024: 12.95 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 3.1%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): -100,000
Job postings in 2024: 1.18 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $34.00 ⇧ 2.3% YoY
MANUFACTURING JOBS TO WATCH
INSPECTORS, TESTERS, SORTERS & WEIGHERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 79,340
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 8%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $22.95
PRODUCTION WORKER HELPERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 2,211
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 3%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $18.52
FREIGHT, STOCK & MATERIAL MOVERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 210,183
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 0%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $19.02
Retail
Total employment as of June 2024: 15.67 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 5.3%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 721,000
Job postings in 2024: 1.64 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $24.46 ⇧ 0.8% YoY
RETAIL JOBS TO WATCH
COUNTER & RENTAL CLERKS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 13,726
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 55%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $18.89
RETAIL SALESPERSONS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 514,697
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 5%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $16.83
CASHIERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 112,577
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 11%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $16.09
Hospitality
Total employment as of June 2024: 16.91 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 5.2%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 97,000
Job postings in 2024: 1.11 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $22.06 ⇧ 2.2% YoY
HOSPITALITY JOBS TO WATCH
RESTAURANT COOKS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 68,959
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 4%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $18.06
BARTENDERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 64,876
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 5%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $17.57
FAST FOOD & COUNTER WORKERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 208,626
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 6%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $16.09
Cleaning & Janitorial
Total employment as of June 2024: 192,120*
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 4.1%*
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): -30,000*
Job postings in 2024: 2.20 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $23.62* ⇧ X% YoY
*Accommodations subsector (BLS)
CLEANING JOBS TO WATCH
LANDSCAPING & GROUNDSKEEPING WORKERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 54,507
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 43%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $19.02
CLEANERS OF VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT
Job postings, January-June 2024: 23,995
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 8%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $17.05
MAIDS & HOUSEKEEPERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 114,159
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 15%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $17.05
Energy
Total employment as of June 2024: 589,600*
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 2.5%*
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 50,800*
Job postings in 2024: 78,400
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $50.83* ⇧ 0.8% YoY
*Utilities Sector (BLS)
ENERGY JOBS TO WATCH
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 3,370
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 52%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $26.15
SHEET METAL WORKERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 2,095
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 4%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $25.54
WELDERS, CUTTERS, SOLDERERS & BRAZERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 15,953
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 12%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $23.45
Business & Professional Services
Total employment as of June 2024: 22.95 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 3.7%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 68,000
Job postings in 2024: 2.921 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $42.33 ⇧ 2.4% YoY
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES JOBS TO WATCH
ACTUARIES
Job postings, January-June 2024: 5,174
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 5%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $67.32
BANK TELLERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 30,601
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 6%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $19.26
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 41,139
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇩ 9%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $52.86
Education & Health Services
Total employment as of June 2024: 26.35 million
Unemployment rate as of June 2024: 3.1%
Jobs added in 2024 (based on payroll numbers): 517,000 million
Job postings in 2024: 3.57 million
Average hourly wage as of June 2024: $34.16 ⇧ 1.5% YoY
EDUCATION & HEALTH SERVICES JOBS TO WATCH
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 13,085
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 101%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $28.86
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 46,359
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 61%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $21.89
SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Job postings, January-June 2024: 105,712
Jobs change from July-December 2023: ⇧ 42%
Median hourly wage as advertised: $28.86
About PeopleReady
PeopleReady connects people with work in hundreds of communities throughout the U.S. We put a Workforce Within Reach™ across a variety of industries, such as hospitality, retail, manufacturing, construction and more. If you’re struggling to find workers in this competitive market, contact PeopleReady and learn more about our staffing solutions.
SOURCES
- U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- Lightcast, July 3, 2024
