Final answer:
Firms typically recruit for entry-level positions, although this practice may be tempered by economic conditions such as recessions. Once confident in the market's stability, firms actively recruit to support growth. The hidden job market represents a sector where higher-level jobs are found, which contrasts with the more public nature of entry-level job recruitment.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is generally true that firms fill entry-level jobs via recruitment. Recruitment efforts are particularly evident during economic upswings following a recession, when companies anticipate growth and seek to fill new positions. However, during a recession's onset, firms may hesitate to recruit due to uncertainty over the durability of decreased demand. Instead, they might retain existing employees to avoid the costs of hiring and training new staff. Once the economic recovery is assured, companies begin recruiting to fill necessary roles that cater to increased demand, and new entrants to the labor force are frictionally unemployed until they secure employment.
Interestingly, while entry-level positions are often publicly advertised, more senior or specialized jobs may be part of the so-called 'hidden job market', requiring job seekers to display perseverance and creativity to uncover these opportunities. Therefore, accessing the hidden job market can be especially relevant for more experienced professionals than for those seeking entry-level positions.