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White-Collar Recession Looms as Job Openings Plummet

2/17/2026

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Story summary
  • Wall Street Journal reports signs of a white-collar recession as tariffs and healthcare costs raise prices.
  • Job openings have fallen, and the unemployed-to-openings ratio nears 2020 lows.
  • The latest jobs report shows over 130,000 hires, led by healthcare, with declines in financial services.
  • Wage growth slows; the Employment Cost Index is up 3.3% in Q4 2025, edging inflation.
  • Job searches now average six months, and some seekers use "reverse recruiting."