Recruiting Market Report - January

Find out what we are hearing from candidates and clients and get our predictions for the future of the hiring market in the January 2026 edition of The ASP Team Market Report:

Quinn Finnigan - Recruiting Services Leader

Joss Stokke - Recruiting Services Leader

What are we hearing from candidates?
"I’m concerned I might be laid off."
Although many candidates we speak with are satisfied in their current roles and aren’t actively looking for a change, they remain open to hearing about new opportunities as they are concerned about potential layoffs. The year started with a few high-profile layoff announcements including Seattle-based Amazon announcing its largest round ever with 16,000 workers affected after the company laid off 14,000 in October. Due to some anxiety about layoffs, candidates are open to a conversation. However, they get more serious and move past just listening if the opportunity provides salary growth, better work/life balance, or a hybrid work environment. Obtaining a higher salary or finding other growth in a cooling job market has been a major hurdle for many candidates.


What are we hearing from clients?
"We are continuing to take our time."
Clients are continuing to be somewhat slow, steady, and picky. Many are using interim help while waiting for candidates with specific skills to fill their roles. They are being more cautious and are focused on stabilization versus expansion. Many of the roles we are working are due to vacancies, including retirements, versus new positions from growth. Employers seem hesitate to add headcount due to economic fragility and increased inflation.
  
What are we feeling about the market?
“More of the same.”
The market seems to be continuing it’s holding pattern. 2025 was the slowest year for job growth in more than a decade outside of the 2020 pandemic year. January 2026 was another slow month for hiring as the private-sectors added just 22,000 jobs according to ADP, which is a slowdown of the previous month’s revised total of 37,000. The official Bureau of Labor Statistics January jobs report is coming out on Wednesday. The figures were to be released last Friday but are delayed due to the brief federal shutdown. The report is expected to show more of the same in terms of job adds and the unemployment rate (December was 4.4%).  

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ASP Hiring Statistics
40 - Days to Place (avg.)
$155,333 - Placed Controller Salary (avg.)
32% - Diversity Hires
82% - Interviews for our clients

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Recent Placements
CFO - Nonprofit - Eugene
Payroll Administrator - Construction - Kirkland
Regional Property Manager - Real Estate -  Bellevue

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Hiring Smarter with The ASP Team
Check out the latest episode of our accounting and finance recruiting podcast!

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Top Candidates
Take a look at some examples of accounting and finance candidates we are working with currently.

View Our Top Candidates