Unemployment in the U.S. is at historically low levels, and there are green shoots of economic revival all across the globe.
And there’s more evidence that an economic upturn is just around the corner in this latest study by resume.io.
It analyzed over 100,000 job adverts on LinkedIn to show which cities are seeing the biggest rise in the number of job applicants per job per week.
Let’s take a look at the results.
The Most and Least Competitive Global Job Markets
Competition for the top jobs in the United Arab Emirates is almost as hot as the country’s scorching summer temperatures. The Gulf nation has two cities in the top 10 global job markets. These include the billionaire’s playground Dubai, which ranks as the world’s most competitive job market. According to theresume.io research, over 285 people apply for a Dubai job within the first week.
China may be a world leader in big tech, but its labor market ranks at the bottom of this chart. With less than one applicant per job posting, Beijing is ‘officially’ the world’s least competitive global job market.
Job Markets are Heating Up in Seattle
Seattle has seen a huge increase in people applying for jobs within the first week. In fact, the number of early-bird applicants has quadrupled in less than a year, jumping from 7.5 to over 40.
And finding a job in Luxembourg City is getting harder than ever. The European capital now sees around 38 people sending in CVs for every job within the first week; that same figure was less than 12 in 2023.
Job Competition Across the U.S. States
Competition is baked into the state of Washington, where Republicans and Democrats battle it out for control of the White House. Jobs in the nation’s capital state are well-paid, high-status, and promise real power and influence.
And the high number of sought-after roles has made Washington the most competitive U.S. state for jobs. Vacant roles in Washington receive over 40 applicants within days of posting.
What’s Going On in Wisconsin?
No offense to Wisconsinites, but your state doesn’t have a reputation for being a hotbed of innovation and growth. But there’s good news for those ambitious Cheeseheads (yes, that really is a nickname for residents of Wisconsin). The state’s economy is booming. In the last 12 months, the number of people applying for jobs in the first week has increased by an incredible 714%.
Competition for Jobs in U.S. Cities
All the usual suspects appear on the list of U.S. cities with the hottest job markets. They include New York, where 66 people apply for jobs within the first week, and Los Angeles, which has a first-week applicant rate per job of 76.
Thousands of former LA residents have relocated to Texas in the last few years, which has driven up competition for jobs in Houston and Dallas. However, the title of the most competitive U.S. city for jobs belongs to San Jose, where more than 150 people fire off a CV within the first seven days of seeing a new job posting.
