• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
NewslettersFortune CHRO

Job seekers are worried that Trump’s tariff policy chaos is hurting their chances in the labor market

Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Brit Morse
By
Brit Morse
Brit Morse
Leadership Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 27, 2025, 8:18 AM ET
Portrait of businesswoman having ache after work overload
Job seekers say uncertainty around Trump’s trade policies are making the process more difficult. Getty Images

Good morning!

Recommended Video

With flip-flopping trade policies dominating the news cycle, job seekers are stressed about how they could impact their ability to get a job. 

More than a third of people looking for work (35%) say they expect tariffs to make it more challenging for them to land a job, according to ZipRecruiter’s latest Job Seeker Confidence Index. Additionally, about a third (32%) say this is because they’ve observed fewer job postings and a slow down in companies hiring. And the number who say hiring slowed goes up to 50% for those in the logistics industry, 39% for those in tech, and 38% in manufacturing.

Even though unemployment overall currently remains low, and the U.S. and China cut a deal earlier this month lowering a 145% tariff down to a more manageable 30%, workers have reason to feel anxious about their future hiring prospects. Companies have already had to lay off workers as a direct result of these trade policies. And experts have previously told Fortune that continued uncertainty about the economy could lead employers to hold off on hiring. 

Earlier career employees say tariffs are impacting their career prospects the most, according to the ZipRecruiter report. And employees overall are concerned that Trump’s trade policies will require them to make a major career shift moving forward. Nearly half (47%) say they’re looking to switch industries altogether due to tariffs, and which rises to 61% of workers in tech and manufacturing.

It’s important to note that job seekers’ assessment of the current labor market is actually better than it was earlier this year, up around 3.1 percentage points, according to the survey. But the confidence that the same group has for the future is on the decline; job seekers now believe that there will be fewer jobs six months from now then there are today.

“For job seekers, times of macroeconomic uncertainty like this are when they should stay consistent and proactive in pursuing interesting positions—because new opportunities may not come about on the timeline they have in mind,” says ZipRecruiter president Dave Travers.

Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com

Around the Table

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.

As the government moves to cut science budgets, researchers are increasingly looking for work overseas. Washington Post

During the switch to remote work, white-collar employees experienced a world of work without office etiquette, and now, some say, it’s time to bring it back. New York Magazine

Here’s how Kohl’s CEO Ashley Buchanan’s personal relationship with executive Chandra Holt led to a massive scandal and cost him the job. Wall Street Journal

Watercooler

Everything you need to know from Fortune.

More diversity. To make it more ethical and less toxic, the gaming industry needs more women, executives say. —Sydney Lake

AI optimism. While many top leaders are warning that the latest tech will replace jobs, others are more positive, and say it will build the future. —John Kell

Sensoring communication. Microsoft employees discovered that email messages mentioning ‘Palestine,’ ‘Gaza,’ or ‘genocide’ were being blocked. —Beatrice Nolan

This is the web version of Fortune CHRO, a newsletter focusing on helping HR executives navigate the needs of the workplace. Sign up to get it delivered free to your inbox.
About the Author
Brit Morse
By Brit MorseLeadership Reporter
LinkedIn icon

Brit Morse is a former Leadership reporter at Fortune, covering workplace trends and the C-suite. She also writes CHRO Daily, Fortune’s flagship newsletter for HR professionals and corporate leaders.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Newsletters

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Newsletters

Trump speaking into a mic.
NewslettersEye on AI
Should Americans get an equity stake in AI? Trump and progressive Democrats float public ownership of AI
By Beatrice NolanJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
Meet the Walmart exec who runs a $96 billion business that would sit between Tesla and Target on the Fortune 500
NewslettersMPW Daily
Meet the Walmart exec who runs a $96 billion business that would sit between Tesla and Target on the Fortune 500
By Emma HinchliffeJune 9, 2026
8 hours ago
Exclusive: The startup that’s dressing up crypto for Wall Street raises $175 million in a round led by a16z crypto, Paradigm, and Ribbit Capital
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Exclusive: The startup that’s dressing up crypto for Wall Street raises $175 million in a round led by a16z crypto, Paradigm, and Ribbit Capital
By Ben WeissJune 9, 2026
11 hours ago
Boris Cherny, head of Claude Code at Anthropic and Fortune's AI Editor Jeremy Kahn on June 8, 2026 at the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference in Aspen.
NewslettersCFO Daily
The man behind Claude Code says you’re comparing AI costs to the wrong thing
By Sheryl EstradaJune 9, 2026
12 hours ago
SpaceX IPO means more to the Gulf than you might expect
NewslettersFortune Gulf Brief
SpaceX IPO means more to the Gulf than you might expect
By Melissa HancockJune 9, 2026
12 hours ago
Brian Schimpf, co-founder and CEO of Anduril Industries, speaking at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo: Stuart Isett/Fortune)
NewslettersFortune Tech
The future of armed conflict, according to Anduril
By Andrew NuscaJune 9, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
23 hours ago
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Success
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
By Preston ForeJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
6 hours ago
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
Economy
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
By Nick LichtenbergJune 7, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.