The Industries Powering Job Growth — and What to Watch in 2026

The U.S. job market cooled through much of 2025 — but “cooling” isn’t the same as “collapsing.” Even as total hiring slowed in the second half of the year, several industries quietly kept growing, creating meaningful opportunities for employers and job seekers who know where to look.

Here’s where the market is today — and what’s likely to drive growth in 2026.

What Happened in Q2–Q3 2025

From April through September, overall hiring tapered off, but a few industries stood out:

• Healthcare & Social Assistance led the way.
  Hospitals, outpatient care, nursing facilities, and social assistance added tens of thousands of jobs per month, even as other sectors flattened.
  Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Employment Situation — August & September 2025.

• State & Local Government (especially education) added a surge of roles in early summer, driven by public education and administrative hires.
  Source: BLS, Employment Situation — June 2025.

• Transportation & Warehousing grew modestly in spring, then leveled out by Q3 — stable but no longer surging.
  Source: BLS, CES industry detail tables — April–September 2025.

• Construction held steady, but job openings cooled, hitting some of their lowest levels in years.
  Source: BLS, Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) — August 2025.

• Wholesale trade, manufacturing, energy, and federal government saw net job losses as demand eased and some projects slowed or paused.
  Source: BLS, CES & JOLTS — May–September 2025.

Bottom line: Employers became more selective, but demand didn’t disappear. It shifted to sectors with strong structural drivers — especially healthcare.

Why This Shift Matters

In slower economic periods, the job market doesn’t freeze — it rebalances.
Some industries keep expanding because their demand is driven by long-term structural trends, not short-term cycles.

For talent, that means targeting roles in durable growth sectors gives you more leverage.
For employers, it’s a smart time to hire strategically while others hesitate.

2026 Outlook: Sectors to Watch

Most major forecasts — including those from the BLS and Conference Board — point to slower GDP growth in early to mid-2026, but sustained hiring in industries with structural tailwinds.

1. Healthcare & Social Assistance

This remains the single largest and fastest-growing sector in the U.S.
BLS projects +8.4% growth over the next decade, with persistent demand for clinicians, allied health professionals, behavioral health workers, administrative staff, and health-tech roles.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; BLS CES 2025.

2. Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

Think: AI, data, cybersecurity, and IT services. This sector is projected to outpace average job growth as organizations modernize infrastructure and automate processes.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034.

3. Clean Energy & Grid Modernization

Clean energy jobs grew roughly 3× faster than the overall U.S. economy in 2024, and the DOE’s 2025 U.S. Energy & Employment Report showed the sector surpassing 3.5 million jobs.
Renewable energy, EV infrastructure, and grid projects will continue to be major hiring engines.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, 2025 U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER).

4. Construction & Skilled Trades

Even with some cooling in private development, infrastructure and industrial projects funded by state and federal programs will keep skilled labor demand high — especially for electricians, linemen, HVAC techs, and solar/wind installers.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; JOLTS Construction Data 2025.

5. Logistics & Supply Chain (selective)

Warehousing and air cargo remain stable, especially in high-demand freight corridors. It’s not a boom, but it’s steady.
Source: BLS CES Industry Detail — 2025.

Industries Likely to Stay Soft

• Wholesale & manufacturing (outside of automation and advanced manufacturing niches)

• Federal government roles

• Mining and fossil fuels (subject to policy and commodity price swings)

These sectors aren’t disappearing — they’re just entering more selective hiring phases.

What This Means for Employers and Job Seekers

For employers, this is a prime moment to make smart, strategic hires. The best talent isn’t sitting idle — they’re looking for clarity, mission, and opportunity.

For candidates, focusing on growing sectors can mean the difference between competing for one job or having multiple offers. Skills tied to health, infrastructure, tech, and energy will carry the most weight heading into 2026.

The Bottom Line

• The U.S. job market slowed in Q2–Q3 2025 — but didn’t stall.

• Healthcare and education drove most hiring.

• 2026 looks selective but opportunity-rich, with durable growth in healthcare, tech, clean energy, and infrastructure.

• Employers who move strategically now can win top talent while others wait on the sidelines.

At JRo Recruiting, we help growth-minded companies hire smarter — not louder. Whether you’re building your next marketing team or scaling your org in a shifting market, we’ll help you find talent that fits and teams that thrive.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Situation (June–September 2025)

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) (August 2025)

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections 2024–2034

• U.S. Department of Energy — U.S. Energy & Employment Report (USEER) 2025

• The Conference Board — U.S. Leading Economic Index (LEI) (September 2025)