Laura Lloyd headshot Written by: Laura Lloyd

Atlanta job market trends for 2023

There’s a lot of uncertainty around the Atlanta job market as we head into 2023. 

A U.S. recession appears to be imminent, and we don’t know yet the impact that will have on the job market.

In 2022, we saw an aggressive job market where candidates could leverage their wants to get the best possible job offer because of an abundance of job openings. In the immediate future, the clients we are working with are continuing this trend in hiring, and candidates are being aggressively pursued by recruiters and other hiring managers. 

But there are a few trends we’ve seen this year that we can confidently say will continue into the first half of the year and beyond.

Here are the Atlanta job market trends we’ll see in 2023. 

  1. Retention will be a continued priority 

We’ve heard a lot in the past year about the importance of retaining your employees. The term “quiet quitting” has dominated the headlines – according to a Gallup poll, quiet quitters make up 50% of the workforce. This was a trend that picked up steam online in 2022 among employees where they aren’t exactly “quitting a job,” but they aren’t going above and beyond the call of duty either. 

This is because they don’t feel like they can advance in their role at that organization. So, the onus is put on employers to put forth the effort to retain those employees by offering them professional development opportunities, perks, benefits and the things they need to feel like they are making a difference in that organization. If you need help and strategies to retain these employees, we’ve got a free Retention Toolkit that you can use today to get started.

Woman typing on her laptop computer about Handler, top recruiting firm in Atlanta
  1. A big focus on well-being

The after-effects of the pandemic are something that we still feel in the workplace. This took a large emotional toll on businesses and leaders and has had long-term effects. The disruptions of the last few years have caused many individuals to explore more meaningful work, and as a result loyalty to a business has declined

In a report from MetLife, 72% of employers say stress and burnout were a challenge for their organization. As a result, business leaders are putting a greater focus on employee well-being and taking this to a more personal level for employees and offering things that cater to their individual needs such as: 

  • Shorter work weeks
  • More flexibility and greater work-life balance
  • Career development and training
  • Wellness programs
  1. The economy will impact all hiring decisions 

The uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economy will absolutely have an impact on the job market in 2023. Top leaders in Atlanta are trying to discern where the economy will be heading as they finalize their strategies around hiring decisions and other workforce decisions. 

There’s a lot of discussion going on about the recession and whether or not businesses should make short-term hiring decisions vs. long-term decisions. Businesses will be challenged to find leaders worth following who can lead in this tough economic climate. 

Regardless of what happens in 2023, your company will always need a leader worth following. These people are the difference makers who can manage your team and create results in 2023 to move your company forward. We can help your company do that. Read more about how we’ve helped place more than 3,000 leaders like this since we started in 1977.