Author: Katie Kelly, Managing Director of Ambrion
Read any news headline right now, and you’ll find plenty of reasons to stay put. Layoffs, slowing job growth, economic uncertainty- take your pick. What the headlines don’t say is that there are 2 job markets operating right now. One is the market that the national news is covering. The other is the market that accounting and finance professionals are in. Mistaking one for the other could cost you the opportunity to move forward.
Job Market: Weak or Strong?
At the macro level, the job market doesn’t look great. Job growth slowed considerably in 2025, with 181,000 jobs added nationally, compared to 1,500,000 in 2024.
That decline, though, is an average across every industry, field, and location. When you zoom in on accounting and finance, the picture shifts considerably.
- The number of accountants and auditors has shrunk by more than 17% since 2019
- 75% of currently licensed CPAs are within 15 years of retirement age
- 124,000+ accounting and auditor job openings are expected every year through 2034
- And the demand for financial analysts is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations
There are more job opportunities than qualified people to fill them — and that gap isn’t closing anytime soon. We saw this play out in real time over the past 6 months. Compared to Q4 2025, we had over 40% more new job orders from clients in Q1 2026.
In Minnesota, the talent shortage has reached the point of legislative action. The state passed a law in May 2025 creating new, alternative pathways to CPA licensure, effective January 1, 2026. That’s a direct acknowledgment that the current supply of qualified professionals cannot meet demand.
So, to sum up: the job market is weak for certain fields. But for accounting and finance professionals in the Twin Cities, the data points toward more opportunity, not less.
Layoffs: Everywhere or Concentrated?
Layoffs happen every year- in good markets and bad ones. The thing to look at is if they’re broad-based or concentrated. Right now, they’re concentrated.
More than 1 million job cuts were announced last year, the highest level since 2020.
That number is jarring, and I won’t deny that. But look at where those cuts were concentrated.
Tech and the federal government accounted for the overwhelming majority. DOGE-driven federal workforce reductions, combined with consolidation at major tech firms, drove the headline numbers.
Within the accounting world specifically, the layoffs that made news last year were similarly concentrated.
- Deloitte announced layoffs after 120+ of its federal consulting contracts were terminated or cut back
- PwC reduced 2% of its US workforce, citing “historically low” attrition; the decision was unrelated to AI adoption or AI investments
For those worried about AI-driven layoffs specifically, there’s some positive news. A report from Q4 2025 found that AI and technological updates accounted for only 4% of layoff reasons. An overwhelming majority included market/economic conditions at 22% and DOGE actions.
Mid-market companies, regional firms, healthcare organizations, financial services firms, and privately held businesses in the Twin Cities — the employers that make up the core of the local accounting and finance job market — are operating in a different environment.
Many entered 2026 with active searches and approved hiring budgets, particularly for mid-level roles requiring specialized technical skills and experience.
The story that headlines are describing is not the reality for most accounting or finance professionals in the Twin Cities.
Right Time to Move: Now or Later?
One of the most common things I hear from accounting and finance talent is: “I just don’t know if now is the right time to make a move.” I get it, but the thing is, there will never be a “right” time. The professionals who made moves in 2008 or 2020 didn’t have a magic 8-ball that said, “Go for it.” They just knew deep down that staying put was costing them more than moving forward.
If you’ve made it this far in this blog, you probably have that feeling, too. Trust it. And the good news is that there are more open roles than qualified people to fill them, which works in your favor.
Choosing to ignore that gut instinct and waiting for the perfect time is a strategy, but it comes at a cost: in compensation, in career trajectory, and in time you don’t get back.
The market won’t feel certain before you move. It never does. But with my team and me by your side, you don’t have to go it alone. Curious what opportunities are available for someone with your experience? Give us a call at (952) 278-1800 or explore current openings.
Related Resources
- Available Accounting + Finance Career Opportunities
- The Hiring Market: 2025 Insights and 2026 Outlook
- 10 Signs It’s Time to Quit Your Job