(September 2025) Startup Formation Has Cooled, Job Growth Stalled, and Tech Layoffs Reshape the Market — Inside the Capital Split Driving AI Supervaluations and the Race for Executive Talent.

The executive hiring landscape in 2025 hasn’t cooled — it’s shifting gears. AI is still pulling in record capital, but investors are tightening the funnel. Layoffs are reshaping the market. And the bar for leadership hires has never been higher.

In August, we saw executive search demand stay elevated for the third straight month (482 opened searches, +31% YoY), unemployment claims rise to their highest levels in months (263K), and the jobs report confirm a clear slowdown (+22K jobs, 4.3% unemployment, 8.1% underemployment).

So we pulled together what we’re seeing — across live searches, investor calls, and founder conversations — into a tight, high-signal deck:

(September 2025) Bearhug Recruiting – Market Trends & Talent Insights

Here’s a quick preview of what’s inside:

• Why net business creation has cooled, but survivors are leaner, more disciplined, and built to last

• What rising unemployment claims and a weak August jobs report signal for hiring timelines

• How ~95K tech layoffs YTD are surfacing execs — but the best are gone almost instantly

• Why the top 1% of AI startups are now valued at 3–10x higher multiples than non-AI peers

• How executive demand stayed elevated in August, keeping the race for top talent tight

• What founders must do to win transformative execs before the window closes

You’ll also get a quick look inside Bearhug’s Easy Button search model — helping startups move faster, cut founder lift by 90%, and close top talent before the competition even knows they’re available.

It’s sharp, timely, and made for founders making critical hires — and the investors guiding them.

👉 Click here to view our newly updated September 2025 deck

And if it hits? Share it, forward it, or shoot me a note — I’d love to compare notes on what you’re seeing in the market too.