 You would often see business leaders, employers reacting very rapidly to the initial signs of an economic slowdown, and they would proceed with rapid layoffs in an effort to cut costs. It's led to a labor market that can feel vastly different depending on your circumstances, says Julia Pollack, chief economist at ZipRecruiter. If you have a job you love, this is a great economy. You have unprecedented job security. But if you don't have a job, and if you've never had a job, finding one is proving tricky.