Labor Market Insights
| CHANGE STATE

In this month’s Labor Market Insights, Graham from Change State unpacks the latest April jobs report, highlighting steady job growth, cooling wage gains, and persistent economic uncertainty driven by tariffs and inflation. With the Fed holding rates steady and long-term unemployment ticking up, employers face a nuanced hiring landscape. Plus: fresh insights on AI’s role in workforce planning, engagement trends, and how companies are preparing for what’s next.

In this month’s Labor Market Insights, Graham from Change State breaks down the surprising strength of March’s job gains, rising economic uncertainty from shifting tariff policies, and the Fed’s cautious stance on interest rate cuts. With inflation cooling but consumer confidence dipping, employers face a complex hiring landscape. Plus: insights on AI’s growing impact on talent strategy, workplace engagement, and the evolving future of work.

Welcome to the month of meteorological musical chairs where spring strains to break free from winter’s clutches. 🌱 Did you know the word ‘March’ comes from the Roman god Mars? March (or ‘Martius’ in Latin) was so named as it was historically associated with the resumption of warfare after winter’s pause.

Greetings from February, a month consistently one of the most hated for being cold, bleak, and occupying a dull, sad space in-between. If you’re feeling this way, take heart—February also marks the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake!

Change State Friends,

Happy New Year! ✨ I hope you ushered in 2025 with a little bit of this energy! January often feels like the first page of a new book, and this month our newsletter has a new look.

Change State Friends,

The Change State team wishes you a holiday season filled with cheer and happiness! Whether you’re gathering with family, friends, or both, we hope it’s a time of joy and togetherness. And if it feels like it’s going rather quickly, you’re not wrong: this year’s calendar has the fewest days possible between Thanksgiving and Christmas.