PHOENIX (AZFamily) — If you’re hoping to land a new gig in the new year, one Valley jobs expert says it’s a good time to be in the hunt for a new job!

“It’s a job seeker’s market. I think there’s a lot of open positions,” Ryan Naylor, founder and CEO of recruiting software company VIVAHR, said.

Naylor said “in 2025 for Arizona, we see that the labor market is going to continually improve.” He says many employers are expanding or relocating to Arizona, which is why he anticipates a strong outlook for jobs in the state this year.

“We are seeing hiring across the board and across all major industries, but Arizona specifically has been a destination for light manufacturing, operations, and a lot of those moving pieces tend to drive a lot of job growth in our area as well,” Naylor added.

He also said hospitality is expected to continue to grow in the new year, and he expects it to “pace really strongly as well.”

As for getting a new job, he’s finding companies are looking for “talent to have experience in the particular roles that they’re hiring for. We’re not seeing as much entry-level jobs.”

Here’s the three things Naylor says you should do if you are searching for a new job:

• Align your resume with the job you are applying for
• Build network and relationships
• Become a “job board ninja” by searching multiple sites and setting alert

“Only 2-20% of all applicants ever get looked at for a potential interview. It is incredibly important to be in the first 10% of all applicants for the job, so taking the time to create alerts and notifications help you be at the top of your game,” Naylor said.

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