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The Big Freeze: How the 2025 White-Collar Slowdown is Shaping Franchise Leadership

By: Careertopia Franchise Executive Search |  26 Shares     162 Reads

Why Franchise Hiring Has Slowed—and What to Do About It

April 25, 2025 // Franchising.com // The white-collar hiring world isn’t just cooling off—it’s frozen. Since mid-2024, executives and franchise leaders have faced a historic shift in how talent is hired, moved, and retained. At Careertopia, we’ve named this moment The Big Freeze, and it’s reshaping how franchisors and franchisees approach leadership hiring.

❄️ What’s Causing The Freeze?

Since April 2024, senior-level career movement has come to a near standstill. Executive hiring timelines have tripled. Roles that used to attract a dozen applicants now receive hundreds. Talented professionals are applying for positions well below their experience level, intensifying competition and confusing the hiring landscape.

Much like the housing market—where homeowners won’t sell due to high interest rates—workers are staying put. Companies don’t need to lure talent with higher salaries or perks, and job seekers, unsure about the future, are hesitant to take risks. It’s a freeze from both sides.

🔎 Why Is It Hitting Franchising So Hard?

Franchise brands are feeling the sting more acutely for a few key reasons:

• Oversold Territories: Many brands pushed aggressive development in 2021-2023, but franchisees can’t open units due to financing issues and rising build-out costs.
• Shift from Development to Ops: With fewer units opening, franchisors are prioritizing operational leadership over franchise sales roles.
• Election-Year Uncertainty: Potential policy changes, inflation, tariffs, and rate hikes are causing brands to pause hiring until the economic fog clears.

🧠 What Role Does AI Play?

AI and automation are accelerating the shift, replacing many mid-level corporate jobs in HR, finance, legal, and marketing. Fewer roles = fewer promotions = stalled career paths. Companies are eliminating middle management layers, and that’s leaving seasoned franchise executives with fewer options.

💡 How Can Franchise Employers Adapt?

Now is the time for brands to be strategic:

• Streamline Hiring: Don’t get buried in resumes. Executive recruiters can help you focus on quality over quantity.
• Be Transparent: Set clear compensation ranges and growth paths to attract the right talent.
• Act Faster: Top candidates are still moving—but slowly. Delay too long, and they’re gone.

🚀 How Can Job Seekers Break Through?

Executives seeking new roles should:

• Leverage Recruiters: The best jobs aren’t posted. Get in front of decision-makers through relationships.
• Network Smart: Use your franchising connections to uncover opportunities.
• Stay Agile: Consulting or lateral moves can keep your career moving during the freeze.

🤝 The Value of Executive Recruiters in 2025

At Careertopia, we’re not just filling jobs—we’re solving hiring gridlock. In this competitive climate, executive recruiters are more than middlemen—we’re market interpreters, cultural translators, and your edge in the freeze.

For employers, we help you:

• Pre-screen top-tier talent
• Avoid costly hiring delays
• Navigate evolving salary expectations

For job seekers, we provide:

• Access to hidden roles
• Strategic guidance on market fit
• Real-time feedback from decision-makers

📈 What’s Next?

We expect the freeze to continue through 2025. But when it thaws, companies that have built strong leadership teams will be best positioned for explosive growth.

If you’re a franchisor struggling to hire—or a franchise executive stuck in this freeze—now’s the time to talk.

SOURCE Sean Falk, President, Careertopia

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Media Contact:

Sean Falk
sean@careertopia.com