Labor Market Shows 'Continued Resilience' Despite Volatility, Conference Board Finds

HR Dive · United States · Aug 14, 2026

The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index rose in July 2026, signaling continued labor market resilience despite a 'low-hire, low-fire' environment and year-over-year growth of only 0.6%. Job openings climbed an estimated 168,000 to 7.53 million, and small businesses reported stronger hiring intent, with 36% saying jobs are 'not able to be filled right now.' However, volatility factors including seasonal education cuts and post-FIFA World Cup normalization in leisure and hospitality dragged non-farm payrolls down by 23,000 in July. A separate Resume.org report noted that while 92% of companies plan to hire in 2026, over half anticipate layoffs driven by AI adoption, restructuring, and budget constraints.