Hello there Reader,

September is typically the hottest month of the year to be active with your job search. The big takeaways are included, as well as the deeper dive I share exclusively with readers of the Product Career Newsletter.

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The big takeaways

With just under 22,700 open listings, the global PM job market held steady in September. But beneath the surface, some surprising shifts emerged:

The US stalled after August’s rebound, essentially flat at –0.1% month-over-month.
EEA posted the strongest growth (+5.6%), rebounding after a difficult summer.
The UK continued its steady climb, up 5% and now 13% higher than six months ago.
LATAM fell again, down 4.5%, but saw an extraordinary 249% spike in leadership roles.
Middle East stayed the fastest-growing YoY region, up 32%, with remote jobs surging 52%.
Canada inched higher, now up 25% over six months, proving one of the most resilient markets.
Seniority levels diverged sharply: associate roles swung wildly (down in the US, soaring in EEA/Canada), while senior and leadership positions moved in opposite directions across regions.
Remote work is back on the rise in several markets, especially the UK (+33%) and Middle East.

For job seekers, the theme this month is volatility with opportunity—regional rebounds and role-level spikes mean the right targeting matters more than ever.

Regional breakdown

United States: Flatlining after rebound

The US market opened September with 9,489 PM jobs, essentially flat (–0.1%) after August’s strong 6.8% rebound. Mid-level roles ticked up 2.6%, but senior positions fell (–2.3%) and leadership stayed flat.

On-site roles grew +5.2%, while remote (+0.6%) and hybrid (+0.8%) barely moved. For PMs here, competition remains high with little net growth.

APAC: Holding steady, but down YoY

APAC stayed flat at 4,067 roles (–0.1%). Associate roles grew nearly 8%, but leadership fell sharply (–5.9%). Hybrid work is gaining traction (+8.1%) while on-site roles edged down.

The market remains 8.4% below last year, signalling a slow recovery.

EEA: Strong rebound

The EEA had one of its best months this year with 4,431 jobs (+5.6%). Senior roles surged +12%, but leadership declined (–11%). Most striking: remote opportunities jumped 28%, continuing a strong two-month trend (+55%).

If you’re job hunting here, flexibility is opening up again.

United Kingdom: Slow but steady growth

The UK rose to 1,374 jobs (+5%), marking a 13% gain over six months. Senior roles posted solid growth (+8%), while leadership and PM roles were more modest. Remote opportunities jumped 33%, suggesting UK firms are re-expanding flexibility despite on-site cuts (–9.1%).

Canada: Quiet but resilient

Canada grew slightly to 820 roles (+1.2%), but is up an impressive 25% over six months. Associate roles spiked (+167%), while senior jobs fell (–7%). On-site positions jumped +10%, reinforcing its reputation as a stable but traditionally office-first market.

LATAM: Continued contraction, with a twist

LATAM dropped again to 696 roles (–4.5%, –19% YoY). PM roles fell (–6.2%), but leadership skyrocketed 249%—a rare spike suggesting firms are top-heavy in hiring priorities. Hybrid roles rose (+23%) while remote fell (–14%), highlighting shifting dynamics.

Middle East: Growth leader YoY

The Middle East reached 847 roles (+2.8%), now up 32% YoY. Associate positions doubled (+133%), while senior and leadership roles pulled back. The standout trend: remote roles surged 52% month-over-month, the fastest of any region.

Seniority trends

Associate roles: Volatile swings across regions

Associate PM roles saw wild fluctuations this month. The US market plummeted by 44%. Meanwhile, the EEA (+79%), Canada (+167%), and Middle East (+133%) surged dramatically.

The leading assumption here is that Associate roles are seasonal with the end of MBA programs over the Summer. Since I only had data going back to January 2025, YoY comps will be available in 2026.

Mid-level PMs: Steady growth with regional consistency

Mid-level roles grew consistently across most regions. The US, UK, and Canada all showed modest expansion. Only APAC declined slightly.

Senior PMs: Growth in Europe, contraction elsewhere

European markets grew strongly in senior roles. The EEA increased by 12%. Other regions pulled back significantly, showing divergent recovery patterns.

Product leaders: Mixed signals with notable outliers

Leadership hiring varied dramatically between regions. LATAM’s extraordinary 249% spike stands out. Most markets remain cautious, focusing on operational rather than strategic expansion.

Work environment

On-site: Still the dominant model

On-site positions continue to dominate the market. The US and Canada showed notable growth at 5.2% and 10% respectively. Both the UK and Middle East markets reduced their on-site offerings this month.

Hybrid: Holding steady globally

Hybrid arrangements remained stable across most regions. APAC and the UK demonstrated particular strength with increases of 8.1% and 6.8%. Most other markets saw minimal movement in hybrid opportunities.

Remote: Strong comeback in key regions

Remote work is surging in several markets this month. The UK, Middle East and EEA led with impressive growth of 33%, 52% and 28%. LATAM continued its trend of reducing remote roles with a 14% decline.

The takeaway: remote is rebounding regionally, not universally—worth tracking if flexibility is your priority.