The job search in Memphis is getting tougher, with many families feeling the strain as U.S. hiring cooled sharply in February and slipped to levels last seen during the early COVID shutdowns. Local job counselors and residents say postings are thinner, callbacks are slower, and those drawn-out application marathons are starting to feel like the new normal.
Federal data: hiring at pandemic lows
Fresh numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show hires fell to about 4.8 million in February. The national hiring rate dropped to 3.1%, the lowest reading since April 2020. The agency also reported roughly 6.9 million job openings and highlighted notable declines in accommodation and food services and in construction.
Putting it all together, federal officials described a "low‑hire, low‑fire" labor market, with many employers choosing to sit tight rather than bring on new staff or cut existing workers.
Why economists are cautious
Economists point to a familiar list of headwinds as reasons companies are tapping the brakes on payroll growth. Higher borrowing costs, policy uncertainty and rising input prices are all making businesses think twice before adding staff. As reported by The Associated Press, analysts also called out climbing gasoline prices, tariff-driven costs and the murky impact of artificial intelligence on entry-level roles as likely contributors to February’s slowdown in both openings and hires.
Local jobseekers report longer searches
In Memphis, those national trends are showing up in very personal ways. Lisa Ellis told FOX13 Memphis that her daughter has been sending out applications for months and getting few callbacks, calling the whole process "a little trying."
Travis Moody, founder of Forward Memphis, told the same outlet that his staff is urging job seekers to "stay encouraged" even as searches stretch on. Local economist Michael Kofoed described the "economy as more or less stuck in neutral" and advised workers to hang on to any steady paycheck they already have while they keep looking for better opportunities.
Where to turn in Memphis
For Memphians trying to ride out this hiring slowdown, help is still out there. Local groups, including Forward Memphis and city workforce centers, continue to offer resume support, training, and hiring events aimed at people who need immediate work or a skills upgrade.
Counselors say the smartest play right now is to keep some kind of income stream coming in, sharpen in-demand skills, and watch upcoming federal jobs reports for signs that hiring momentum is finally starting to turn around.
