Frontline workers experienced notable wage growth in the first quarter of 2025, yet many industries are still struggling to fill open roles. A new report from Resume Now and Talroo, based on labour market data from January through March, shows rising pay in logistics, healthcare, and administrative roles, alongside persistent hiring gaps that employers can’t seem to close.
The Top Frontline Industries by Demand and Wage Growth: Q1 2025 Report draws from Talroo’s Frontline Worker Index, which tracks job postings, resume activity, wage trends, and shifts in applicant behaviour. The findings reveal where demand is highest, which sectors are most understaffed, and how wages are adjusting in response.
Logistics, healthcare, and admin see big shifts
Trucking and warehousing led the way in wage growth, with pay increases of 16% and 15%, respectively. The rebound reflects renewed demand in transportation and supply chain roles following a slump in 2024. Despite the higher wages, many logistics companies are still having trouble finding qualified workers fast enough.
In healthcare, caregiving, retail, and customer service, the applicant shortage is even more severe. Burnout continues to drive experienced workers out, while fewer new candidates are entering these fields. The result is a tightening labour pool that gives job seekers more leverage, but creates instability for employers.
Administrative jobs, by contrast, are seeing healthy growth on both sides of the labour equation. Wages rose 10%, and applicant-to-job ratios remain strong. For workers looking for stable hours, moderate stress levels, and upward mobility, admin roles are emerging as a smart choice.
Food service slows, manufacturing slips
Wage growth in food service and sales was more modest at just 3%. Regulatory changes, including new wage laws in states like California, are beginning to reshape how jobs are structured in these sectors and may further influence hiring trends in the second quarter of the year.
Manufacturing was the only frontline sector to see a decline in wages, falling 1% in Q1. Demand for labour remains steady, but broader economic factors — including global tariffs and ongoing policy uncertainty — may be suppressing wage growth, at least temporarily.