This browser does not support the Video element.
US private sector lost 32k jobs in November
According to new reporting from payroll processing firm ADP, companies in the private sector lost 32,000 jobs in November. However, despite widespread job losses in November, the education and health services sector gained 33,000 positions in the month. ADP chief economist Nela Richardson recently said, "Hiring has been choppy of late as employers weather cautious consumers and an uncertain macroeconomic environment." LiveNOW’s Andy Mac is learning more with Megan Leonhardt, a senior writer for Barron's covering economic issues.
Despite an extremely competitive job market, demand remains strong for workers in healthcare, essential services, infrastructure-related fields, and other skill-based jobs, according to Monster’s latest report.
Monster’s 2026 Job Market Outlook, based on full-year 2025 job posting and jobseeker data, looked at the labor market based on different concentrations to understand where the most in-demand work will be in 2026, so jobseekers can be more targeted as they look for roles.
"The 2026 labor market is defined less by broad growth or decline and more by divergence," Monster careers expert Vicki Salemi wrote in the report, adding that "hiring demand is concentrating in sectors tied to essential services, public investment, and specialized skills, while other areas continue to slow or undergo structural change."
AI WON’T KILL YOUR JOB, BUT IT WILL CHANGE WHAT 'REAL WORK' MEANS, ROBINHOOD CEO SAYS
Helping jobseekers understand "where demand is structurally supported, rather than temporarily elevated, can mean the difference between chasing openings and building a resilient career path," Salemi continued.
DATA CENTER BOOM POWERING AI REVOLUTION MAY DRAIN US GRIDS — AND WALLETS
FILE - A healthcare worker in scrubs reviews patient information. (Getty Images)
Overall, healthcare remains the strongest hiring engine, according to Monster's report. The most in-demand roles in that field include registered nurse, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language therapist, clinical social worker and licensed professional counselor, according to the report.
The report also highlighted that skill-based, credentialed and hands-on jobs continue to outperform white-collar support roles because they "address persistent, real-world needs that cannot be easily automated or postponed," Salemi said.
There is a shift even in technology toward infrastructure, operations and stability rather than speculative expansion, she said.
CONSUMER SENTIMENT RISES ABOVE EXPECTATIONS IN JANUARY BUT REMAINS BELOW LAST YEAR'S LEVEL
- Automotive technician / mechanic
- Electronics technician
- Repair technician
Here are the jobs in demand:
- Logistics specialist
- Over-the-Road truck driver
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Delivery person
Skilled Trades & Technical Services
(Hands-on technical skills with strong replacement and maintenance demand)
- Quality assurance engineer
- Data engineer
- Automotive technician / mechanic
- Electronics technician
- Repair technician
Transportation, Logistics & Essential Services
(In-person, credentialed roles that support supply chains and emergency response)Dentist
- Dietitian
- Massage therapist
- Personal trainer