Aura CEO Evan Sohn on CNBC: Why Entry-Level Job Decline Signals a Broader Workforce Realignment

On July 2nd, Aura Intelligence CEO Evan Sohn appeared on CNBC’s The Exchange to break down the evolving U.S. labor market. His message? The June jobs report may look strong on the surface, but Aura’s workforce analytics reveal deeper shifts underway, particularly in entry-level hiring.

“The U.S. labor market is outperforming many foreign counterparts,” Sohn noted. “But we’re seeing troubling signs in the entry-level space.” He pointed to a 30 percent-plus decline in entry-level job postings, a major challenge for recent college graduates. That means many are working in jobs that either don’t require a degree or fall well short of their qualifications.

Watch Sohn on CNBC

Entry-level weakness is just the beginning. Aura’s real-time data reveals what’s really moving beneath the surface. Want to see these insights in action? Request a custom demo of Aura’s workforce intelligence platform.

Aura’s Data Confirms the Trend: Entry-Level Weakness Amid Broader Rebalancing

Aura’s July Jobs Report, released concurrently with Sohn’s CNBC appearance, reinforces his on-air commentary. The recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a 147,000 job gain in June and a steady 4.1 percent unemployment rate. But Aura’s real-time, alternative workforce data tells a more complex story.

Hiring trends are not moving uniformly. Instead, they are splitting apart. While frontline and healthcare roles are expanding, professional and business services are beginning to slow. The public sector (state government) and service industries are still adding jobs, but private-sector hiring is starting to fragment.

Aura’s platform reveals that the labor market is not in decline. But it is sharply reorganizing.

Sector Shakeups: Strategic Growth in Healthcare, Pullbacks in Tech

Beneath the surface of steady job gains, Aura’s data reveals a labor market that is moving with precision rather than momentum. Healthcare stands out as a sector that continues to show strength, with job postings increasing by 8 percent in June. Employers are investing in both clinical and non-clinical roles, including telehealth, digital operations, and administrative support. These hires reflect long-term demographic needs and the push for more scalable care delivery models.

In contrast, tech and software hiring is showing signs of intentional slowdowns. Job postings in IT services fell by 12 percent, and software development roles dropped by 9 percent. Many companies appear to be shifting from aggressive headcount expansion to operational integration. After early-year surges—particularly in AI and infrastructure—the focus has turned toward execution, cost efficiency, and consolidation.

As Evan Sohn noted on CNBC, the changes point to a realignment rather than a retreat. “It’s not all bad news,” he said. “There’s targeted hiring happening.” Aura’s near-real-time workforce data confirms that employers are making selective, strategic moves, focusing on where talent can drive impact rather than "simply adding bodies."

A Market in Motion, Not in Decline

Aura’s July report confirms this shift across regions, industries, and job functions.

• North America led global hiring trends, with a 7 percent increase in job postings. Europe declined by 5 percent, and Asia Pacific dropped by 8 percent.

• Remote job postings plateaued at around 7 percent of all postings, indicating a mature and targeted approach to remote work.

• AI-related job postings surged early in 2025 but began to taper in May and June as companies transitioned from experimentation to implementation.

Rather than a widespread hiring freeze, Aura’s data points to a strategic approach to labor investment. Employers are making focused bets on areas tied to growth and flexibility, like healthcare and customer-facing digital roles, while slowing hiring in more back-office or infrastructure-heavy functions.

What This Means for Leaders and Analysts

Aura's platform, powered by data from over 1 billion employee profiles and 500 million job postings, provides clients with early insight into labor trends that traditional sources cannot detect in real-time. The result is a high-definition view of where talent is moving, how hiring is shifting, and what it means for investment, strategy, and operations.

Whether you are an investor evaluating a target, a consultant building a growth thesis, or an HR leader crafting a workforce strategy, Aura helps you move faster and smarter.

Sohn’s CNBC message is clear. The labor market is neither booming nor collapsing. It is rebalancing. And Aura is helping companies stay ahead by showing not just where the workforce is today, but where it is heading tomorrow.

Looking to stay ahead of market shifts? Request your custom demo of Aura’s real-time workforce dashboards and uncover tomorrow’s hiring trends today.