Job hunt proving harder for most American seekers — survey

MARYLAND, UNITED STATES — This year’s job hunt has been more difficult for most job seekers in the United States.

The survey of over 1,500 job seekers was conducted by staffing firm Aerotek across diverse industries. Over 70% said they have had to put in extra effort, while nearly 68% feel the process is harder than their last search.

Over half of the survey respondents said companies seem to be taking longer to make hiring decisions nowadays.

Based on their experience over the last three months, nearly 54% of job seekers said they thought employers had slowed down the hiring process.

The tough climate is also hitting seekers’ finances, with more than 74% saying their money situation is the same or worse than last year. When asked about the top barrier in their job search, over 55% singled out the economy and job market.

While pay remains the top motivator (30%), Aerotek noticed those who answered job security (18%) gaining more importance recently, as economic uncertainty continues weighing on workers.