The March 2026 Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects a labor market that remains relatively stable, with unemployment edging down to 4.3%.

Beneath the headline numbers, sector-level hiring tells a more important story. Healthcare added 76,400 jobs in March, while manufacturing showed uneven but meaningful movement. Durable goods added 15,000 jobs, including gains in transportation equipment (+6,500) and fabricated metal products (+5,200), even as chemicals (-5,200) and furniture (-2,000) declined.

Stiles Associates, the leading executive search firm for Operations and Transformation leadership, is proud to announce the release of the 2025 Compensation Report.

Every year, the team at Stiles Associates successfully places A-level leaders into critical roles throughout the nation. At the end of each year, we compile and share the details of real compensation packages from a broad selection of searches, offering the most current salary, bonus and equity figures available in the market. This information proves invaluable for both companies and candidates, giving them up-to-the-minute insight into the current hiring trends across various industries.

In recent discussions with our clients and top executives, supply chain disruption continues to be the top concern. To provide greater insight into how the market's responding, below is an overview of how we've partnered with organizations to secure exceptional Supply Chain leadership talent:

In the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, an event that has significantly disrupted the Port of Baltimore and, consequently, supply chains across the United States, the critical role of resilient supply chain management has been starkly highlighted. This incident not only emphasizes the need for manufacturers to focus on cost efficiency but also underscores the paramount importance of prioritizing the development of robust and flexible supply chains capable of withstanding unexpected disruptions. Central to this resilience is the presence of adept supply chain leaders, whose strategic foresight and agility are indispensable in navigating the complexities of modern supply chains.

The following is a sample of Interim Management searches Stiles Associates filled on behalf of client organizations. In each example, our dedicated executive recruiters worked with the client to craft a custom search strategy, tapping into our proprietary network of proven executives for each client’s mission-critical temporary need.

In the first quarter of 2022, Stiles Associates placed a number of A-level leaders in mission-critical roles located across the country.

Last year, the Stiles Associates team placed a number of A-level leaders in mission-critical roles
located across the country. As we wrapped up 2021 and turn the page to 2022, we want to share
key information from a handful of last year's searches — which both hiring authorities and
candidates alike will find beneficial to grasp a better understanding of the marketplace demands
in several sectors. The following data points stemming from these searches include: job title,
client industry, U.S. region where the candidate was placed and total compensation.

Great article from IndustryWeek on the rise of the IPD process in design and construction.

"Lean thinking can be an effective source of continuity and structure to make decisions that meet the challenges of whatever issue you face while maintaining as much of the rhythm as possible."

Great article in the Fabricator on the importance of Executive Leadership for Lean transformation.