Who’s still hiring? Here are the organizations powering through aid cuts

If you’ve recently lost your job in global development, you’re not alone — and you’re not without options. Since the Jan. 24, 2025, announcement of a U.S. foreign aid freeze under the new Trump administration, the global development job market has undergone a dramatic shift. Tens of thousands of contracts have been suspended, major employers have downsized heavily, and job seekers have been left navigating an industry in flux. But amid the uncertainty, there are glimmers of resilience. More than 20,000 jobs were still posted on Devex between late January and May 1. And while overall recruitment is down about 21% compared to the same period in 2024, not all organizations — or sectors — have pulled back. In fact, some have kept hiring at the same pace or even increased recruitment. Who’s scaled back — and who hasn’t? The impact of the U.S. foreign aid dismantling has not been uniform across the sector. Some organizations have scaled back significantly, while others have maintained or even increased recruitment. UNICEF, for example, reduced its advertised roles by 54% compared to the same period in 2024. Global health as a sector saw one of the steepest declines, with postings down 45.5%. In contrast, organizations like the Asian Development Bank posted nearly 1,500 jobs over the same period, maintaining steady recruitment levels. Early-career challenges and changing global hot spots For early-career professionals, the picture is challenging. Entry-level roles declined by 30%, while mid-level roles were down nearly 19%. However, internships saw a notable 38.9% increase, offering students and recent graduates a potential foothold in an increasingly competitive space. Geographically, job availability has shifted as well. The United States, Kenya, and the United Kingdom still feature among the top countries by volume of listings. But Belgium and Brazil saw some of the largest increases in job postings — 74% and 63%, respectively. Understanding the current hiring landscape These findings are part of the new Devex downloadable guide, Who is still hiring in global development?, which compiles exclusive data on the 50 most active hiring organizations, sector-specific trends, and changes in job types and geographic distribution. For job seekers navigating this new landscape, the guide provides a clearer view of where demand remains — and how hiring priorities are shifting in response to funding changes. The full guide is available to download here.