The job market looks solid on paper. In 2023, unemployment hit a 54-year-low at 3.4% in January, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that U.S. employers added 2.7 million people to the payroll the same year. But it’s a different story for active job seekers. A staffing firm Insight Global found that recently unemployed full-time workers applied to an average of 30 jobs, only to receive an average of four callbacks or responses. So why does it feel so hard to get a job right now and is the U.S. labor market as strong as it seems? Chapters: 01:23 Daunting process 05:07 Cooling market 07:56 Repercussions Produced and edited by: Juhohn Lee Assistant Editor: Jack Hillyer Animations by: Christina Locopo Supervising Producer: Lindsey Jacobson Additional Footage: Getty Images, Jenna Jackson » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to land your dream job in 2024? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview and save 50% with discount code EARLYBIRD: https://cnb.cx/3TSmIfX Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC #cnbc Why Getting A Job Feels Impossible Right Now