Samwise High Tech Recruiting Newsletter
Tuesday, July 1, 2026
May JOLTS Data Shows 7.59 Million Job Openings, Beating Forecasts
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 7.59 million job openings in May, exceeding the Bloomberg economist consensus of 7.3 million and edging above April’s revised total. Construction and leisure and hospitality posted the largest sector gains, while financial activities saw openings fall for a second consecutive month. The quits rate held steady at 1.9%, a sign workers’ confidence in finding new positions remains subdued. Layoffs ticked higher, led by construction, with healthcare and social assistance layoffs matching the highest since 2020 at 0.9% of the employed workforce. The ratio of vacancies to unemployed workers remained at 1-to-1.
Sources: Staffing Industry Analysts Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Korn Ferry to Acquire AMS for $1.1 Billion in Major RPO Consolidation
Korn Ferry announced an agreement to acquire AMS — one of the world’s largest recruitment process outsourcing providers — for approximately £850 million ($1.1 billion). The deal, announced June 29, is expected to close in Korn Ferry’s second fiscal quarter of FY2027 pending regulatory approval. The combined firm will span more than 16,000 employees across 120 countries, placing a candidate roughly every 90 seconds. AMS brings approximately $650 million in annual fee revenue and more than $1.5 billion in estimated fees remaining under existing contracts. Industry analyst Josh Bersin called AMS “a very well-run, successful talent acquisition outsourcing and advisory company.”
Sources: HR Executive Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Consumer Confidence Edges Up in June, But Labor Market Concerns Deepen
Consumer confidence edged up by 0.6 percentage points to 91.2 in June, as falling oil and gas prices eased some economic anxiety, according to the Conference Board’s latest survey. However, the uptick masked deteriorating labor market sentiment: 22.5% of respondents said jobs were “hard to get,” the highest number since January 2021. Assessments of employment conditions fell 2.6 points to 2.4. The Present Situation Index dropped three points to 116.4. The Expectations Index, which measures short-term outlooks for business conditions, income, and the labor market, improved three points to 74.4. Inflation expectations edged lower for the month.
Sources: Staffing Industry Analysts Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
JPMorgan and Goldman Offer Temporary WFH Flexibility for World Cup Match Days
JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs have offered employees the option to work from home on match days as the FIFA World Cup sweeps through 11 US host cities, according to the Financial Times. The accommodation represents a notable reversal for both firms, which have resisted employee calls for flexibility — JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon previously told RTO critics to quit. Research from TopResume underscores the recruiting cost of hardline mandates: nearly 20% of managers report that employees have quit or threatened to quit over return-to-office requirements, and more than one-third say RTO policies make it harder to attract top talent.
Sources: HR Executive Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Global Survey: 49% of Workers Plan Job Search as Salary Gains Stall
Nearly half of employees globally — 49% — plan to search for a new job in the next six months, even as most employers report no plans for headcount reductions, according to research published June 30 by Ireland-based recruitment firm Morgan McKinley. The study highlights a disconnect: nearly 70% of employees say they have not received a salary increase in the past six months, up from 65% in 2025, while 67% of employers reported turnover tied to pay and flexibility concerns. On the technology front, 43% of job seekers now use AI tools in their search, up sharply from 26% in 2025.
Sources: Staffing Industry Analysts Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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