Labor and Industry Trends

Labor markets normalizing

The latest BLS report reflects a healthy labor market. Job growth was solid in April. The 115,000 increase in nonfarm employment last month, following March’s 185,000 gain, marked the first back-to-back positive job gain in almost a year. This positive indicator suggests a constructive overall labor market picture.

Beyond the numbers

Many have commented that Kforce CEO Joe Liberatore summarized the state of today’s skilled technology labor market very well in his prepared remarks on the recent Q2 earnings call. “Several of the leading indicators we track, which have historically signaled strengthening demand for our services, are improving,” Liberatore said. “Companies are increasingly turning to flexible talent strategies to move forward on a significant backlog of high-priority technology initiatives, especially in the age of artificial intelligence where CEO’s remain cautious to add permanent headcount. “At the same time heightened geopolitical uncertainty, including the conflict involving Iran, has contributed to significant volatility in global energy markets, resulting in sharp price increases across oil, gasoline, natural gas and electricity. In this environment, clients are focused on agility. We believe uncertainty is reinforcing the value of flexible workforce solutions as organizations seek to adapt while they gain greater clarity around geopolitical developments and the longer-term impact of emerging technologies on their businesses and talent strategies.” We encourage you to stay in touch with your Kforce partners as you chart out the next steps for your organization or career. In this unprecedented era of technological change, it has never been more important to align the right resources to capitalize on the rapid pace of change. Your Kforce partners have access to the best thinking and practices across the spectrum of industries.

by Michael Blackman

Published May 13, 2026

MAY 2026

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Michael Blackman

Learn More About Kforce

As Chief Corporate Development Officer at Kforce, Michael Blackman, a 32-year Kforce veteran, is the primary focal point for the firm with the Wall Street and financial communities. He is regularly sought out by leading economists for his perspectives on the economy and labor markets, and he contributes to a number of key proprietary economic publications.

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U.S. employment month-to-month change

April 2024 through April 2026

300K

200K

100K

Apr 2024

Jan 2025

Oct 2025

Jan 2026

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Apr 2025

Jul 2025

Jul 2024

Oct 2024

Apr 2026

287K

146K

-100K

-200K