The Talivity Talent Market Index

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    Market analyst's callout board for March 2026

    February Jobs Surprise to the Downside

    February delivered a downside surprise, with payrolls falling –92K after a strong +126K in January. What stands out is where the pullback is happening: Healthcare led declines (–28K), alongside Manufacturing (–12K) and Information/Tech (–11K)—a signal that both frontline and white-collar hiring are starting to recalibrate. It’s also important to note that last month’s Healthcare strength was partially influenced by strike-related distortions, making February’s decline feel more pronounced as those effects normalize. Finance, however, continues to show resilience, adding +10K jobs and reinforcing a broader theme we’re seeing: selective hiring persists, even as overall demand softens.

    Economic Signals are Mixed as Uncertainty Builds

    The broader economic picture remains mixed. Wage growth is still elevated at ~3.8% YoY, signaling continued competition for talent, even as unemployment ticks up to 4.4%. At the same time, GDP slowed sharply to 0.7%, pointing to softening economic momentum. The takeaway: depending on the signal you look at, the market tells a different story: tight in pockets, but cooling overall.

    Broad Based Pricing Pressure Despite Short-Term Cooling

    Even as hiring activity shows signs of short-term cooling, pricing remains elevated across the market. 7 of 9 segments continue to sit above baseline, reinforcing that demand for talent is still outpacing supply in key areas. While some sectors are easing month-over-month, year-over-year costs remain elevated across most categories, highlighting a market that is cooling, but not normalizing.

    Talent Market Index™

    The Talivity Talent Market Index (TMI) offers a fresh perspective on talent supply and demand dynamics across industries. It tracks the fluctuating prices employers pay to attract talent through paid advertising across diverse media channels.

    Talent Market Index by Job Family

    Current month performance indicators for March 2026

    View Data As Chart

    Top Performers (TMI)

    Retail
    TMI: 2.15
    +37.82%
    MoM
    Transportation & Logistics
    TMI: 1.89
    -5.50%
    MoM
    Finance & Operations
    TMI: 1.74
    +3.57%
    MoM

    Other Sectors

    Healthcare
    +8.45%MoM
    TMI: 1.54
    IT & Related
    -27.70%MoM
    TMI: 1.07
    Sales
    -0.93%MoM
    TMI: 1.06
    Hospitality
    -8.18%MoM
    TMI: 1.01
    Light Industrial
    +15.48%MoM
    TMI: 0.97
    Food Services
    -8.45%MoM
    TMI: 0.65

    Key Findings - March 2026

    Market Leaders Tighten as Retail Surges and Transportation & Logistics Remains Volatile

    Market Leaders

    Finance & Operations and Healthcare continue to hold leadership positions in the Index, maintaining strong pricing power amid ongoing selectivity in hiring. Retail emerges as a breakout this month, while Transportation & Logistics remains one of the most dynamic and disruptive segments despite recent volatility. Across the board, employers are still paying premiums for experienced, revenue-driving, and operationally critical roles where talent remains constrained.

    Biggest MoM Movers

    Month-over-month, Retail (+37.8%) posted the most significant increase, signaling renewed demand following seasonal normalization. Healthcare (+8.5%) and Finance & Operations (+3.6%) also saw gains, reinforcing continued strength in core professional and care roles.

    On the decline side, IT & Related (-27.7%) experienced the sharpest pullback, reflecting ongoing recalibration in tech hiring. Transportation & Logistics (-5.5%), Hospitality (-8.2%), and Food Services (-8.5%) also declined, pointing to short-term cooling in frontline-heavy segments after recent spikes.

    YoY Leaders

    Year-over-year, Transportation & Logistics (+248.8%) remains the standout, underscoring sustained structural pressure in supply chain and logistics roles. Finance & Operations (+95.5%) and Sales (+100.0%) also show strong long-term pricing growth, highlighting continued competition for revenue-driving talent.

    Retail (+53.6%) and Light Industrial (+59.0%) demonstrate resilience in high-volume hiring categories, while Healthcare (+25.2%) and Food Services (+32.7%) remain elevated. IT & Related (-18.9%) and Hospitality (-46.6%) are the only segments showing YoY declines, signaling normalization after prior peaks.

    Macro Context

    The labor market continues to send mixed signals. While month-over-month volatility reflects ongoing recalibration across sectors, year-over-year pricing remains elevated in most categories. Employers are becoming more selective, concentrating on high-impact roles while pulling back in areas of excess supply.

    The result is a market defined by targeted demand and uneven recovery, where pricing pressure persists—but only where talent gaps remain hardest to fill.

    Industry Breakdown & Analysis

    Detailed insights by sector for March 2026

    TMI: 2.15
    Retail
    +37.82%MoM
    |
    +53.57%YoY
    TMI: 1.89
    Transportation & Logistics
    -5.50%MoM
    |
    +250.00%YoY
    TMI: 1.74
    Finance & Operations
    +3.57%MoM
    |
    +95.51%YoY
    TMI: 1.54
    Healthcare
    +8.45%MoM
    |
    +25.20%YoY
    TMI: 1.07
    IT & Related
    -27.70%MoM
    |
    -18.94%YoY
    TMI: 1.06
    Sales
    -0.93%MoM
    |
    +100.00%YoY
    TMI: 1.01
    Hospitality
    -8.18%MoM
    |
    -46.56%YoY
    TMI: 0.97
    Light Industrial
    +15.48%MoM
    |
    +59.02%YoY
    TMI: 0.65
    Food Services
    -8.45%MoM
    |
    +32.65%YoY

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