During the first three months of 2023, the trend of declining job posting continued, coupled with more than 500 companies announcing layoffs globally, according to a recent webinar from GlobalData, a leading data analytics and consulting company.

More specifically, active jobs saw a significant decrease (28%), meaning increased layoffs or company closures, while new job postings declined by 19%. These figures correspond closely to the job markets in the US, the UK and India, all three of which experienced the most notable downward trends in the first quarter of 2023. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Meanwhile, in terms of sectors, retail, healthcare and technology saw the largest decrease in active jobs, despite continuing to hire actively, according to GlobalData. Conversely, the AI, Big Data and cloud sectors drove hiring trends, while travel and tourism, food services and business and consumer services were among the key industries with higher job posting. Some of the key companies hiring the most include Accenture, Advance Auto Parts, Aldi, AmRest, Cargill, Citi, Eaton, GSK, Marriott, Petco, Raytheon Technologies, Sherwin Williams, United Healthcare, Vestas and Wood. 

In terms of the skills that are most in demand, proficiency in office space productivity applications and (phone) application life cycle management sit at the top of the list. Meanwhile, in terms of the work models, hybrid work continued to gain traction across most industries, with the numbers solely remote working or working from home shrinking. 

Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Awarded the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Award for Business Expansion in Integrated Manufacturing, Upperton Pharma Solutions is rapidly expanding its UK GMP and sterile manufacturing footprint. Find out how Upperton’s integrated CDMO model helps pharma companies move from early development to clinical and niche commercial supply with fewer handovers and faster timelines.

Discover the Impact