How Hiring Priorities Are Shifting in Today’s Job Market

Hiring trends are evolving quickly across industries as businesses face a shrinking talent pool, changing job market demands, and increasing reliance on technology. While technical skills remain essential in many sectors, employers are now placing a growing emphasis on soft skills, adaptability, and cultural fit. Companies that understand these shifts are better equipped to find top talent and build high-performing teams, even in challenging labor markets. Here's a look at how priorities in hiring have changed and what businesses are focusing on today.

The Rise of Soft Skills and Cultural Fit

In the past, hiring decisions were often made based on technical qualifications and industry-specific experience. But in today’s market, employers are recognizing that soft skills are just as crucial, if not more so. Skills like adaptability, communication, and problem-solving are now taking center stage in hiring decisions. As Nataly Mualem, Managing Attorney at Mualem Firm LLC, notes, "Employers are increasingly focused on candidates who can quickly integrate into teams and adjust to fluctuating workloads." This shift is particularly noticeable in industries with seasonal demands, like landscaping, construction, and hospitality, where businesses need workers who can maintain consistent performance during peak times.

Similarly, Kelly Rowlett Presgrave, CEO of Work With Your Handz, points out that over the past five years, clients have put increasing emphasis on adaptability, problem-solving, and communication skills alongside technical expertise. This reflects a broader trend in the trades, where soft skills have become vital for fostering collaboration and innovation in a fast-evolving environment.

This growing emphasis on soft skills is echoed by Kathey Palmer, Chief Growth Officer at Inova Payroll, who notes that "attitude, teamwork mentality, and the willingness to learn and adapt" are essential qualities for today’s candidates. The ability to align with a company's culture has become just as important as technical skills, and companies are increasingly prioritizing candidates who fit in well with their teams.

Attitude and Work Ethic Over Experience

Employers are increasingly hiring for attitude and work ethic rather than simply focusing on resumes. This shift is especially relevant for industries that rely on manual labor, customer service, or other roles where the ability to learn on the job is more important than having a specific technical background. As Ed Laflamme, Head Harvester at The Harvest Group, puts it, “The number one quality is finding people with positive attitudes, who are career-focused, curious, and work well with others.” In his experience, employers are looking for candidates who can demonstrate a strong work ethic and a positive approach to their job.

Judson Griggs, also from The Harvest Group, reinforces this point, saying that a strong work ethic and positive attitude are non-negotiable qualities for hiring. "You can teach people the skills they need, but you can't teach work ethic and attitude," he says. This approach to hiring is especially valuable in industries like landscaping and construction, where employers need workers who can handle the physical demands of the job while maintaining a strong commitment to quality work.

Customer Service and Leadership Potential

Alongside the focus on soft skills, many employers are also prioritizing qualities that contribute to strong customer service and leadership. In the commercial roofing industry, for example, Ross Friedman, Owner/Partner at ServiceAdvantEdge, highlights the growing trend of hiring based on professionalism, dependability, and customer service orientation. He explains that contractors who focus on these qualities are building stronger, more adaptable teams. “By investing in hiring for attitude and professionalism—and then developing technical skills—they find it easier to cultivate a well-rounded service team,” he says.

Kelly Rowlett Presgrave echoes this, noting that leadership potential is increasingly becoming a priority, even for entry-level roles. "Clients are placing more value on leadership potential in candidates, which allows them to build a future-ready workforce," she explains. This focus on leadership ensures that employees not only excel in their current roles but also have the potential to grow and take on greater responsibilities over time.

Transferable Skills

As the demand for talent grows, employers are expanding their search to find candidates with transferable skills. No longer is it necessary for candidates to come from the same industry as long as they bring the right capabilities to the table. Levi Jett, Owner of Jett Facility Consultants LLC, explains that while the snow and ice management industry once prioritized hard skills, employers are now placing more value on transferable soft skills like customer service, communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving. 

Judson Griggs also advises employers to "look outside the box" when hiring. He highlights how businesses in the green industry, for example, have successfully hired candidates from fields like construction and hospitality, where transferable skills like customer service and sales are highly valued. "Great servers tend to exhibit fantastic customer service abilities," Griggs points out, showing how soft skills from outside industries can translate effectively into other sectors.

Tito Caceres, Managing Director at Bloom Talent Solutions, adds that many industries are now moving towards skilled-based hiring, which allows businesses to cast a wider net for talent. "Skilled-based hiring has opened up many companies to hire candidates from outside their industry," he says. 

Technological Proficiency

Technology is playing an increasingly significant role in shaping hiring priorities. As industries continue to adopt new tools, software, and automation, the ability to learn and adapt to technology is becoming just as important as traditional skills. Kelly Rowlett Presgrave notes that "clients are placing increasing emphasis on digital proficiency, especially with tools like ServiceTitan and HouseCall Pro." These tools have become integral to the trades, and employers are looking for candidates who can easily incorporate them into their workflows.

John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting, adds that the construction industry is adopting advanced technologies such as project management software, drones, and robotics. As a result, employers are increasingly prioritizing candidates who can quickly learn and apply these tools. 

The way companies approach hiring has changed in recent years. While technical skills are still important, employers are increasingly prioritizing soft skills, cultural fit, and adaptability. As businesses continue to face labor shortages and navigate changing market demands, the focus on qualities like work ethic, professionalism, and customer service will only grow. By hiring individuals who bring a mix of traditional craftsmanship and modern competencies, employers can build teams that are not only skilled but also resilient, adaptable, and ready for the future.