After a period characterized as “low-hire, low-fire,” the American labor market is seeing a surge of layoffs from companies like Amazon, Starbucks, UPS and Target. And that’s pushing more job applicants towards traditionally less-desirable occupations, like substitute teaching, traffic flagging and waste management. 

Today on the Big Take, Sarah Holder is joined by economic reporter Mike Sasso to discuss what’s happening in this often-overlooked corner of the labor market and what it means for the economy overall.

Read more: The Job Market Is Heating Up — for Jobs That People Usually Don't Want

After a period characterized as &ldquo;low-hire, low-fire,&rdquo; the American labor market is seeing a surge of layoffs from companies like Amazon, Starbucks, UPS and Target. And that&rsquo;s pushing more job applicants towards traditionally less-desirable occupations, like substitute teaching, traffic flagging and waste management.&nbsp;
Today on the Big Take, Sarah Holder is joined by economic reporter Mike Sasso to discuss what&rsquo;s happening in this often-overlooked corner of the labor market and what it means for the economy overall.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-11-17/in-weak-us-labor-market-tough-jobs-are-in-high-demand?srnd=homepage-americas">The Job Market Is Heating Up &mdash; for Jobs That People Usually Don't Want</a>

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

The Hot Market for Jobs No One Wants

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1dc542e4-dcd8-40b5-b1f4-b39a01640844/transcript

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