Headhunters? More like breadhunters: In addition to career coaching and resume building, reverse-recruiting agencies often take the keys and apply for multiple jobs for one applicant. In return, these startups can charge monthly fees north of $1,000 and/or take a cut of their clients’ wages once they find work, per the WSJ.

One conventional recruiter told the WSJ that he was uncomfortable about people giving reverse recruiters their LinkedIn o Login to Workday, as well as the idea of ​​charging job seekers.

This only happens in a dark job market

The current chilly US employment climate is known as “low pay, low fire,” so you often hear seemingly contradictory truths: The unemployment rate isn’t that bad, but it’s also very difficult to find a job.

According to recent federal data:

• Job hunting now takes an average of six months.
• There were more job seekers than job openings last summer for the first time since 2021.
• The economy added the fewest jobs since 2003 last year (barring recessions). Tomorrow’s January jobs report is expected to revise the tally lower and show a continued slowdown in job growth.

Why the slowdown? Tariff uncertainty and additional costs are causing some companies to delay hiring. Some are even undoing during the pandemic hiring bonanzas, and others Apologize removing AI productivity. Recent immigration restrictions also mean there are fewer US consumers, which could lower hiring needs, per the WSJ.

Vicious cycle: Less than half of workers think they can find a new job in three months, according to a recent Fed poll. Many are holding on to their jobs, contributing to low openings and slow hiring.—ML

This report is originally published through Brew in the morning.