The Future of Work
Remote Jobs, Global Competition, and Wages
By: Sophia Paul
Dec. 30, 2025
A Look at the Current Job Market
Finding a job today can feel nearly impossible and that perception is not unwarranted. The labor market has become increasingly demanding and unforgiving, particularly for new graduates. As firms accelerate their adoption of AI and automation, tens of millions of jobs have been lost or replaced. Current estimates place global displacement at roughly 85 million roles, a figure projected to climb to nearly 300 million by 2030.
Beyond automation, broader economic uncertainty and the effects of tariffs have disrupted traditional hiring patterns. At the same time, the market has become severely oversaturated, with hundreds of qualified candidates competing for a single position. The result is intense competition both domestically and abroad. In today’s market, the average candidate may submit anywhere from 100 to 200 applications before receiving an offer. Employers are increasingly shifting toward skill-based hiring, favoring applicants who can clearly demonstrate specific, job-ready capabilities. Those who continue to learn new software and adapt their skill sets remain at a competitive advantage.
U.S. Companies Hiring Abroad
As remote work becomes standard, U.S. companies are increasingly expanding their labor search beyond national borders. Hiring abroad allows firms to bypass the high costs associated with domestic employment, including relocation expenses, higher wages, and benefit obligations. In many cases, companies can secure comparable talent at significantly lower cost by recruiting in regions with lower living expenses.
This global hiring strategy also enables firms to operate continuously, leveraging time-zone differences to maintain productivity around the clock. While this approach may improve efficiency and profitability, it has tangible consequences for the domestic labor market. In sectors such as technology, finance, and professional services, international hiring has reduced the number of available positions for U.S.-based workers, intensifying competition and placing additional downward pressure on wages.
Impact on Wages
While the cost of living continues to rise, wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. Increased global competition has placed sustained downward pressure on U.S. wages, leading employers to offer salaries that often fall short of supporting a reasonable standard of living. Since 2000, wages have risen by just 15 percent, while inflation has climbed 88.2 percent over the same period. For many workers, full-time employment no longer guarantees financial stability.
However, wage decline has not been uniform. Instead, a widening wage gap is emerging. Highly skilled workers continue to command higher pay, while mid and lower-skilled workers face stagnant or declining incomes. In an oversaturated labor market, these workers have little leverage to negotiate salaries or benefits, further reinforcing income inequality.
Creative Destruction
Economic cycles of this nature are not unprecedented. Throughout history, technological advancements have displaced large segments of the workforce. The introduction of the tractor in the early 20th century displaced millions of agricultural workers. The phaseout of telephone operators in the 1970s and 1980s eliminated hundreds of thousands of jobs. The rise of the internet in the early 2000s led to widespread disruption across industries. Today, AI presents a similar challenge on a global scale.
Yet history also offers perspective. In the aftermath of each technological shift, new jobs emerged, many of which had not previously existed. Workers were needed to design, implement, and maintain new technologies, and these transitions ultimately contributed to a higher average standard of living. AI is likely to follow a similar trajectory.
What Lies Ahead for the Job Market?
Now and in the future, a degree is and will not be enough. Hiring managers are increasingly prioritizing skill-based matches over traditional credentials. It has become necessary for workers to continue learning outside the classroom, strategically tailoring new skills to align with desired career paths. As AI further penetrates the job market, the ability to work alongside these tools will be crucial rather than optional. The future will likely see an expansion of AI-driven roles, many of which may exist as hybrid positions combining human judgment with automated systems.
At the same time, job security will continue to erode. Heightened global competition will place greater pressure on workers to remain adaptable. Those who fail to continuously update their skills risk being displaced not only by technology, but by a globally competitive labor pool. As for wages, the growing income gap will likely fuel labor movements and policy discussions. In the short term, wage stagnation is expected to persist. However, in the long term, wages may recover as new industries mature and demand for specialized skills increases. While the transition period is difficult, this is a sign of the evolving market.
