In Q1 2025, U.S. frontline industries continued to experience an intense imbalance between job demand and worker supply, with trucking wages surging by 16% and job postings far outpacing candidate availability. Resume Now® and Talroo have teamed up to publish the Top Frontline Industries by Demand and Wage Growth: Q1 2025 Report, providing deep insights into labor market dynamics across sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
Top 10 Frontline Industries with the Biggest Talent Gaps
These sectors experienced the widest disparity between job postings and available candidates in Q1 2025:
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Trucking
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Allied Healthcare
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Caregiving
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Customer Service
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Manufacturing
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Retail
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Administrative
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Sales
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Food Services
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Warehousing
Sector Breakdown: Hiring Insights
1. Trucking – High Pay, High Demand
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Qualified drivers remain in short supply.
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Wages surged 16%—the highest among all sectors.
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Demand is driven by logistics expansion and post-2023 wage corrections.
2. Allied Healthcare & Caregiving – Critical Labor Shortages
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Roles such as medical assistants and caregivers are in high demand.
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Allied healthcare topped hourly pay at $33.80.
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Caregiving wages rose 8% year-over-year.
3. Customer Service & Retail – Fewer Candidates, Faster Hires
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10% and 7% wage increases respectively.
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Hiring remains difficult, particularly in urban markets.
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Candidates enjoy faster response times and negotiation leverage.
4. Manufacturing & Warehousing – Demand Stable, Wages Diverge
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Warehousing wages jumped 15%, while manufacturing dropped by 1%.
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Industry grapples with policy shifts, tariffs, and global supply dynamics.
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Jobs available for those with logistics or production experience.
5. Sales & Food Services – Modest Gains, Hiring Headwinds
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Sales and food service saw just 3% wage increases.
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Candidate interest is low, especially in high-regulation states like California.
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Potential for better scheduling flexibility as hiring challenges persist.
6. Administrative Roles – A Reliable Opportunity
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Wages rose 10%, reaching $22.13/hour.
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Supply and demand are relatively balanced.
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Strong prospects for workers with scheduling or data entry experience.
Wage Growth Trends: Who’s Earning More in 2025?
| Industry | YoY Wage Growth | Avg. Hourly Wage (Q1 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Trucking | +16% | Varies (per mile/day rates) |
| Warehousing | +15% | Not specified |
| Administrative | +10% | $22.13 |
| Customer Service | +10% | Not specified |
| Caregiving | +8% | Not specified |
| Retail | +7% | Not specified |
| Allied Healthcare | +3% | $33.80 |
| Sales | +3% | $16.95 |
| Food Services | +3% | $16.13 |
| Manufacturing | -1% | Slight decline |
Expert Takeaways: What This Means for Job Seekers
“Despite continued uncertainty across sectors, the need for skilled frontline workers remains strong—and in many industries, it’s growing,” said Thad Price, CEO of Talroo. He emphasized the urgency for smarter recruitment strategies and workforce development investment.
Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now®, added that now is a crucial time for frontline job seekers to optimize their resumes with role-specific keywords and qualifications. Examples include:
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Truckers: CDL certification, route planning experience
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Warehouse Workers: OSHA safety training, inventory systems knowledge
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Caregivers: CPR certification, patient care experience
A Market of Opportunity and Challenge
The Q1 2025 report reflects a pivotal moment in the frontline labor market. Wage increases and hiring gaps are reshaping the employment landscape, offering substantial opportunity for qualified candidates and requiring strategic adaptation from employers. From logistics to healthcare, the path forward lies in targeted hiring, tailored resumes, and a smarter, AI-powered approach to workforce alignment.
