The U.S. labor market in 2025 continues to demonstrate resilience, and the accounting and finance sector remains a key contributor. Despite ongoing economic uncertainties and evolving workplace expectations, hiring within this sector remains strong, driven primarily by business needs in compliance, strategic planning, and financial leadership.
Below is a detailed look at the data and trends shaping the current hiring landscape.
Where the Labor Market Stands
According to the most recent U.S. labor market report from June 2025, the economy added 147,000 nonfarm jobs while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%¹. Although overall labor market growth has slowed compared to previous years, the financial activities sector has shown notable resilience. It experienced a modest rebound in May with 13,000 new roles added, highlighting finance’s continued critical role in supporting business operations and growth.
Other sectors reporting strong labor market gains include healthcare and government, which added 39,000 and 73,000 jobs respectively. Construction also contributed 15,000 new jobs, and transportation and warehousing added 7,500 positions.
While financial activities saw an addition of 3,000 jobs, these figures reflect the sector’s steady, if measured, growth amid broader economic headwinds.
Roles on the Rise
As business needs shift, certain roles within finance and accounting have seen increased demand, including:
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ESG/Carbon Accounting Specialists: Professionals who track and report on environmental impact and compliance are in growing demand as companies emphasize sustainability initiatives and regulatory requirements.
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Financial Systems Analysts and Managers: With increasing automation and digital transformation in finance, experts who can manage and optimize finance-related software, automation tools, and integrations are essential.
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Fractional CFOs and Controllers: These flexible executives provide strategic financial leadership, helping organizations scale without the commitment of full-time hires.
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Field & Business-Level Financial Analysts: Specialists focused on forecasting, financial predictability, and operational optimization to drive business performance and facilitate informed decision-making.
Hiring Timelines: A More Deliberate Approach
The current slower pace of hiring is not necessarily indicative of caution or hesitation. Instead, companies are making more deliberate, thoughtful decisions about how each new hire fits within their evolving organizational structures, headcount budgets, and hybrid or return-to-office policies.
As a result, employers increasingly rely on contract and interim hiring strategies to maintain momentum on critical initiatives while full-time hiring processes extend:
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Contract professionals often onboard within days rather than weeks, providing quick access to needed expertise.
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Interim talent helps fill temporary gaps caused by leaves, backlogs, or high-volume periods.
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Contract-to-hire arrangements allow companies to evaluate candidates on the job before making a long-term commitment.
These flexible solutions are particularly valuable for technical projects such as system implementations, audit support, or mergers and acquisitions activity – areas requiring specialized skills for limited durations. Simultaneously, many companies are investing in upskilling and reskilling their existing teams. As the finance function grows increasingly data-driven and tech-enabled, developing internal talent helps close immediate skills gaps and builds a stronger bench for the future.
Organizations that embrace flexibility in their hiring strategies are better equipped to respond quickly to market shifts and maintain operational continuity even when permanent hiring takes longer than usual.
Best Practices for Hiring in 2025
1. Move Decisively on Top Talent
Despite extended hiring timelines overall, strong candidates remain in high demand and rarely stay available for long. When you identify a candidate who fits your needs, avoid overanalyzing or delays. Acting quickly by extending a compelling offer increases your chances of securing top talent before competitors do.
2. Stay Flexible with Contract and Interim Talent
Hiring doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing decision. Engaging contract or interim professionals can keep projects and daily operations on track while you continue searching for the right long-term fit. Moreover, these arrangements provide a valuable opportunity to assess candidates’ skills and cultural fit on the job.
3. Make the Role Competitive Beyond Salary
Today’s candidates consider much more than just compensation. Career development opportunities, involvement in impactful projects, access to modern, tech-enabled work environments, and flexible work options all play important roles in their decision-making process. Employers who highlight these aspects can better attract and retain top talent.
4. Regularly Benchmark Your Team and Needs
The talent landscape is constantly shifting, so regularly assessing your current team’s skills, performance, and compensation is essential. Benchmarking helps identify gaps, evolving role requirements, and where investment is needed to stay competitive. By understanding how your team compares to the market and adjusting job expectations accordingly, you can better align hiring priorities and retain top performers.
Working with a recruiting partner who specializes in finance and understands your local market can provide invaluable insight, helping you stay informed on the latest trends and drastically reducing your time-to-hire, especially for specialized or high-impact roles.
Contact our team to learn how we can support your talent strategy!
Stay Ahead with Our 2025 Trend Report
The market continues to evolve rapidly from shifting hiring demands to new in-demand skills, and the growing influence of AI across finance functions.
Our 2025 Trend Report dives deep into:
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Current market insights shaping hiring strategies
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Trending roles and skills finance teams are prioritizing
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How AI is transforming finance operations and talent needs
Equip your organization with the knowledge to adapt and thrive. Download the full 2025 Market Insight & Trend Report now and leverage these insights to attract and retain top talent in today’s competitive environment.
[Download the 2025 Trend Report]
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