Below is a 50-year and 25-year chart of full-time jobs.


Full-time jobs, as a percent of the labor force, are near the 50-year high.
(Because this is a politics forum I should concede that before continuing the discussion.)

But, as a job-hunter, what matters to you is the red arrow at the end.
You are not asking “how many other people have full-time jobs,”
nor “are a lot of other people working right now?”
You are asking “What are my prospects?”

The fact that the number is shrinking means now is
not a good time to be looking for a full-time job.
It means companies are shedding full-time employees more quickly than they are hiring them.

Nuts-and-bolts, for the job search:
→ Be more aggressive than usual. (Follow-up phone calls, “thank you for your time” emails etc…)
→ Be prepared to accept your second or third choice, (further away, less enjoyable job etc…)