Eastridge Quarterly Talent Intelligence - Q3 2026

Eastridge Quarterly Talent Intelligence Q3 2026

ABOUT THIS REPORT The Eastridge Quarterly Talent Intelligence is designed to help HR leaders and hiring managers make more confident workforce decisions. Each issue translates national labor market data from Lightcast into practical guidance on which roles are hardest to fill, where wages are moving, and how to build a talent strategy that stays ahead of the market. KEY TAKEAWAYS What HR Leaders Should Know Right Now Short on time? These are the four findings with the most direct implications for your hiring strategy heading into 2027. The labor market is loosening, but not in the roles that matter most to operations National unemployment rose to 4.39% in June, up from 3.99% in April. Even so, production, maintenance, and skilled technical roles remain among the most posted jobs in manufacturing. Job growth is slowing sharply The U.S. added nearly 17 million jobs from 2020 to 2025. Lightcast projects fewer than 8 million over the next five years. With slower growth, most hiring will be to replace workers who leave rather than to add headcount. Maintenance technicians are the pressure point in manufacturing It is the most posted job title in manufacturing this quarter and takes 24 days to fill, well above the 15-day national median. When a maintenance seat sits empty, the cost to operations adds up quickly. Employers are leaning on staffing partners Employment placement agencies and temporary help services posted about 740,000 unique jobs in July and August, roughly one in every ten postings nationally. Five of the six largest job posters were staffing firms. Market Data • Dataset: Lightcast Q3 2026 • Vertical postings: Jun 29 to Sep 26, 2026 • Labor force data: through June 2026 • Published: October 2026 • National postings: 7.26M, Jul to Aug 2026

SECTION 1 U.S. Labor Market Snapshot - Q3 2026 Heading into the final quarter of 2026, the national picture is mixed. Unemployment has risen for two straight months, yet job posting volume has held steady and labor force participation has barely moved. For HR leaders, that means more applicants in the pipeline but no easier path to the skilled and technical candidates that keep operations running. Unique job postings 7.26M Nationally, Jul to Aug 2026 Median posting duration 15 days National average across all roles National unemployment 4.39% June 2026, up from 3.99% in April Labor force participation 61.77% June 2026, below the 62.71% peak in 2023 ON RISING UNEMPLOYMENT Monthly posting volume has stayed between 3.6 and 3.9 million since spring, even as unemployment has ticked up. Employers are still hiring, but they are not adding to demand. More people are looking for work, but that does not give employers more qualified candidates for skilled and technical roles, and those searches have not gotten easier. A larger applicant pool is only an advantage for employers with a process built to find the right candidates in it quickly. SECTION 2 Roles in Demand: What the Market Is Competing For The following analysis breaks down the top five posted roles across five hiring verticals. For each, we show national posting volume for the quarter within that vertical's core industries, how long postings stay live, and a demand signal based on volume and fill time. The final column is written for hiring leaders planning for Q4 and early 2027: not just a data point, but what it should change about how you approach that role. *Avg. days to fill is the median posting duration for each job title within the vertical's industries, meaning how long postings stay live before they are filled or removed. Demand signal: Very high = 20% or more of the vertical's top-ten postings, or 25+ days; High = 10% to 19%, or 18 to 24 days; Moderate = below both.

Manufacturing, Transportation and Warehousing Once transportation and warehousing are added to manufacturing, truck drivers dominate the picture. CDL-A driver postings outnumber the next four roles combined nearly four to one, and they stay open longer than anything else on the list. Maintenance technicians rank second and take almost as long to fill. Role National postings Avg. days to fill* Demand signal What this means for your hiring CDL-A Truck Drivers (all types) 88,483 22 to 30 days Very high demand Combines regional, local, dedicated, over-the-road, flatbed, and team driver postings. Advertised pay runs about $36 to $44 an hour for most types, so employers with in-house fleets compete on pay, home time, and route consistency. Maintenance Technicians 7,144 25 days Very high demand Posted by more than 2,500 companies, the widest competition on this list. At 25 days, a vacancy runs well past the time most operations can tolerate unplanned downtime. Forklift Operators 5,922 21 days High demand Certified operators move between warehouses for small pay differences. Advertised pay centers around $21 an hour, so offers below that lose candidates quickly. Material Handlers 5,120 20 days High demand Demand is spread across more than 1,700 employers. Clear shift schedules and fast start dates matter more than small differences in pay. Machine Operators 4,839 21 days High demand Operators who can run more than one machine or cover multiple shifts are the hardest to find. Cross-training production workers is a practical way to build this pipeline. Source: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set. Unique job postings, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026, within manufacturing and transportation and warehousing. CDL-A figures combine seven driver job titles. *Median posting duration by job title. PLANNING NOTE Driver and maintenance roles take close to a month to fill in this segment, well beyond the 15-day national median. If your operation depends on either, start recruiting before the need is urgent, and treat pay, schedule, and home time as one offer rather than negotiating each separately.

Skilled Trades and Industrial Management Within manufacturing alone, maintenance technicians are the most posted job title of the quarter, ahead of machine operators and truck drivers. They also take 24 days to fill, which makes skilled maintenance the tightest part of the plant labor market. Role National postings Avg. days to fill* Demand signal What this means for your hiring Maintenance Technicians 6,455 24 days High demand The most posted title in manufacturing this quarter, from more than 2,400 companies. Advertised pay has reached about $30 an hour, and experienced multi-trade technicians command more. Machine Operators 4,747 21 days High demand Operators with setup experience are scarce. Employers that offer cross-training and clear shift differentials see stronger applicant flow. CDL-A Truck Drivers 4,488 30 days Very high demand The longest fill time on this list. Licensing requirements limit the pool, so plants with in-house logistics should plan driver coverage well ahead of peaks. Material Handlers 4,383 20 days High demand Plants compete directly with distribution centers for these workers. Pay near $21 an hour and same-week start dates decide most offers. Merchandisers 4,162 23 days High demand These postings come from fewer than 80 manufacturers placing product in retail. Reliable candidates with their own transportation are the constraint. Source: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set. Unique job postings, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026, within all manufacturing industries. *Median posting duration by job title. PLANNING NOTE Maintenance and driver roles are where manufacturing hiring slows down. Both require credentials or experience that cannot be trained in a week. Employers planning Q4 volume should confirm skilled coverage first, then build the production bench around it.

Engineering and Technical Electrical engineers are the most posted role at engineering, R&D, and machinery firms this quarter, just ahead of project managers. Mechanical and structural engineers follow, a sign that equipment, energy, and infrastructure work are all drawing on the same engineering pool. Role National postings Avg. days to fill* Demand signal What this means for your hiring Electrical Engineers 2,028 21 days High demand Automation, energy, and equipment manufacturers are all competing for these engineers. Candidates with controls and PLC experience are especially scarce. Project Managers 1,956 17 days High demand Candidates with technical backgrounds and delivery experience draw multiple offers. A clear scope and clear decision rights help close them. Mechanical Engineers 1,587 17 days High demand Engineers in the three to seven year range are the most contested and the most likely to receive counteroffers. Move quickly once you find a match. Structural Engineers 1,471 20 days High demand Infrastructure and construction spending keeps demand steady. Licensed PEs take longer to land, so start these searches early. Civil Engineers 981 15 days Moderate demand These roles fill faster than other disciplines here, but licensed candidates still field competing offers from public and private employers. Source: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set. Unique job postings, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026, within machinery and equipment manufacturing, architectural and engineering services, and scientific research and development. *Median posting duration by job title. PLANNING NOTE Experienced engineers rarely stay on the market long, and many are weighing more than one offer. An interview process that moves from first conversation to offer in a week or less is often the difference between hiring your first choice and your third.

Professional and Corporate Services In accounting, consulting, and administrative services firms, tax roles lead the quarter by a wide margin, driven by extension season. Retail merchandising and project management round out the most posted titles. Role National postings Avg. days to fill* Demand signal What this means for your hiring Tax Professionals 3,879 10 days Very high demand The most posted title in this vertical, concentrated among a small number of large firms. Postings fill in about 10 days, so experienced candidates are off the market fast. Tax Associates 3,332 11 days High demand Entry-level and seasonal tax roles fill quickly. Firms that line up associates before busy season avoid competing for a thin pool in January. Retail Merchandisers 3,013 14 days High demand Demand comes from a small group of outsourced retail service firms. Reliable, mobile candidates with their own transportation are the constraint. Project Managers 1,629 17 days Moderate demand Posted by more than 430 firms, the most widely sought role in this vertical. Candidates with client-facing delivery experience are in demand. Customer Service Representatives 1,299 13 days Moderate demand High turnover keeps demand constant. Contract-to-hire lets employers confirm fit before committing. Source: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set. Unique job postings, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026, within accounting and payroll services, management and technical consulting, and office administrative services. One single-employer title with no duration data is excluded. *Median posting duration by job title. PLANNING NOTE Tax and accounting hiring follows a calendar. Firms that start building their seasonal bench in the fall have far more options than those that wait until January, when every competitor is recruiting from the same small pool.

Legal Associate attorneys are the most posted legal role this quarter, followed by legal assistants and paralegals. Every role on this list takes three weeks or more to fill, among the slowest of any vertical in this report. Role National postings Avg. days to fill* Demand signal What this means for your hiring Associate Attorneys 1,514 29 days Very high demand Posted by more than 700 firms. At nearly a month to fill, firms that move decisively on lateral candidates have a clear edge. Legal Assistants 1,022 29 days Very high demand Support roles are taking as long to fill as attorney roles. Strong legal assistants weigh workload and team structure as heavily as pay. Paralegals 943 25 days Very high demand Steady demand across practice areas. Advertised pay centers around $31 an hour, higher for specialty experience. Litigation Paralegals 808 21 days High demand Litigation experience commands a premium of about $5 an hour over general paralegal roles. These candidates move quickly. Litigation Attorneys 793 26 days Very high demand High litigation volume keeps demand up. Candidates with trial experience need to be moved on quickly. Source: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set. Unique job postings, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026, within offices of lawyers and legal counsel and prosecution. *Median posting duration by job title. PLANNING NOTE Legal candidates weigh workload, culture, and practice focus as heavily as pay. Firms that explain the work clearly and move with purpose through interviews consistently close stronger candidates than those that treat legal hiring as a transaction.

SECTION 3 Pay Rate Benchmarks by Role The table below shows Lightcast's median advertised pay for the roles employers are hiring most, based on Q3 job postings that listed pay. Our planning guidance reflects what we are seeing in the market for each role: how quickly it fills, where pay differs across industries, and where offers are most likely to fall short. Manufacturing and warehouse roles Role Market median advertised Eastridge Planning Guidance Maintenance Technicians $30.46/hr 3,058 postings The most posted title in manufacturing, from more than 2,400 companies, and it takes 24 days to fill. Maintenance mechanics post higher at $32.12/hr, so budget $30 or more for experienced technicians. CNC Machinists $29.35/hr ($61,056/yr) 824 postings One of the slowest skilled roles to fill at 28 days. CNC operators post about $5/hr less at $24.06/hr, so keep machinist and operator roles in separate pay bands. Quality Inspectors $25.05/hr 686 postings Pays nearly $4/hr more than machine operators and fills in 19 days. Postings at engineering and R&D firms take 26 days, so expect longer searches in technical settings. Machine Operators $21.35/hr 2,347 postings The second most posted title in manufacturing, from more than 1,700 companies, and it takes 21 days to fill. An offer below $21.35 is under what half of advertised postings pay. Material Handlers $20.98/hr 1,832 postings The median holds at $20.98 when transportation and warehousing employers are included, so plants and distribution centers compete for these workers at the same pay level. Assemblers $20.86/hr 1,110 postings Fills in 18 days, faster than most plant roles. Pay sits close to machine operators, which makes assemblers a natural pipeline for higher-volume operator roles. Forklift Operators $20.49/hr 1,767 postings Including transportation and warehousing employers raises the median to $21.11/hr and the fill time to 21 days. Plants competing for certified operators should price against distribution centers. Warehouse Associates $19.51/hr 1,349 postings The lowest median in this table and one of the fastest to fill at 16 days. The median is unchanged when warehousing employers are included, so schedule and start date are the main levers left. Source: Median advertised pay on postings that listed pay, Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set, Job Posting Tables, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026. Manufacturing and engineering roles use the Manufacturing (NAICS 31) table; office roles use accounting, consulting, and administrative services; legal roles use offices of lawyers. Industry comparisons in the guidance use the same tables for the other verticals. Posting counts are postings that listed pay.

SECTION 3, CONTINUED Pay Rate Benchmarks by Role Engineering, office, and legal roles Role Market median advertised Eastridge Planning Guidance Manufacturing Engineers $104,192/yr 1,527 postings The sixth most posted title in manufacturing, from more than 1,100 companies, and it fills in 20 days. Consulting and administrative services firms post higher at $116,480. Administrative Assistants $24.18/hr 500 postings Manufacturers post higher at $26.03/hr than accounting and consulting firms. Postings fill in 13 to 17 days depending on industry, so strong candidates move quickly. Customer Service Representatives $19.75/hr 882 postings Manufacturers pay about $2.20/hr more ($21.97/hr) than service firms for the same title. Service firm postings fill in 13 days, compared with 19 in manufacturing. Paralegals $31.14/hr 607 postings Posted by more than 530 legal employers and it takes 25 days to fill. Paralegal roles at accounting, consulting, and administrative services firms advertise far higher, at $42.22/hr. Litigation Paralegals $36.31/hr ($75,520/yr) 476 postings Litigation experience adds about $5/hr over general paralegal pay. At 21 days to fill, these candidates move faster than most legal roles. Legal Secretaries $32.43/hr ($67,456/yr) 166 postings Takes 29 days to fill, the same as associate attorney roles. Plan for a search as long as an attorney search. Source: Median advertised pay on postings that listed pay, Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set, Job Posting Tables, United States, June 29 to September 26, 2026. Manufacturing and engineering roles use the Manufacturing (NAICS 31) table; office roles use accounting, consulting, and administrative services; legal roles use offices of lawyers. Industry comparisons in the guidance use the same tables for the other verticals. Posting counts are postings that listed pay. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Across these roles, the differences between industries matter as much as the medians. Manufacturers pay more than service firms for administrative and customer service roles, while distribution employers set the pace for forklift operators. Among plant floor roles, skilled trades carry both the highest hourly pay and the longest fill times, with maintenance technicians at 24 days and CNC machinists at 28. A pay review does not have to mean across-the-board increases. It means knowing where your most critical roles sit against the market and closing the gaps that are costing you candidates. Eastridge can benchmark any role you are actively hiring against your local market.

SECTION 4 Workforce Trends Three longer-term shifts are shaping the talent market beyond this quarter. Each one points to the same conclusion: the employers who plan ahead for talent will spend less time and money competing for it. Participation is recovering slowly, if at all Labor force participation fell to 61.54% in April and had recovered only to 61.77% by June, still nearly a full point below 2023. More than 105 million adults are outside the labor force, so employers should not expect a wave of returning workers to ease hiring. The retirement cliff is getting closer More than 102 million Americans are 55 or older, about 30% of the population. Production and engineering are among the slowest-growing occupation groups in Lightcast's data, so fewer new workers are entering these fields while experienced workers leave. Knowledge transfer and apprenticeship pipelines are now an operational necessity, not just an HR initiative. Layoffs are selective, not broad Late August WARN filings included several manufacturing, packaging, and distribution employers, while production and maintenance roles remain among the most posted in the country. For employers who are hiring, workers displaced from nearby facilities are a short-term sourcing opportunity worth acting on quickly.

Build a workforce strategy grounded in real market data. Eastridge partners with HR leaders across manufacturing, engineering, professional services, and legal to make workforce decisions with confidence. Whether you are benchmarking pay for an upcoming hiring cycle, planning 2027 headcount, or evaluating your talent acquisition strategy, we bring the market intelligence and operational expertise to help you compete. Ready to see how your open roles stack up against the market? Eastridge can provide a custom role and pay benchmark analysis for your specific geography, industry, and job families at no cost. Data sources: Lightcast Q3 2026 Data Set (lightcast.io). Market Snapshot, Job Posting Analytics, and Nested Posting Tables, United States. Vertical job postings June 29 to September 26, 2026; national posting totals July to August 2026; labor force and unemployment data through June 2026. Pay benchmarks represent national median advertised pay by job title; regional and industry variation applies. All figures are for informational purposes only. REQUEST YOURS TODAY