Negotiating for benefits and job security is more challenging when starting a new job.

New data suggests that the slide in workers' leverage in a challenging job market over the past year may be reaching a rebound point.

In the last quarter, the percentage of new hires who were able to increase their pay when taking a new role decreased from 58% in late June to 57%, according to a recent ZipRecruiter survey of over 1,500 new U.S. hires who started their jobs in the last six months. Additionally, indicators of workers' bargaining power, such as being recruited into their role, negotiating their offer, and receiving a signing bonus, also fell slightly in the last quarter.

Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, says that the small dips in the job market could indicate that workers' struggles are reaching a plateau. New hires have seen their leverage erode a bit as the pendulum swings back toward employers, but the deterioration in sentiment and leverage is slowing down, she tells CNBC Make It.

Pollak believes that the relative stability in the labor market may occur at a time when the Federal Reserve is cutting interest rates, which could lead to increased hiring in technology, law, and business.

Nearly half of the labor market has been responsible for all job growth development, but the growth has slowed and narrowed in recent months, says Pollak.

The number of workers who recently described their job search as "poor" hit a record high of 10%.

Recent hires are less satisfied with their new roles than job-switchers were a year ago, with only 24% saying their new job is their dream job, compared to 42% of job-switchers who felt that way in mid-2023.

According to Pollak, they are taking their jobs with a bit more reluctance.

A small but growing share of workers, 12%, continue to search for "the right job" after being hired, indicating that people are keeping their options open for better opportunities in the near future.

In the absence of big raises, workers are gaining flexibility and lower stress

New hires may not be negotiating larger paychecks, but they are gaining flexibility in their work and personal lives.

Pollak explains that for hourly workers, having greater schedule flexibility in their new job means having more control over their shifts, while for salaried workers, there's a correlation between having a flexible schedule and being able to work remotely.

Schedule flexibility is more valued by women and parents with young children, and they are switching to new jobs with this benefit at a higher rate than men and workers without kids.

Flexibility is a win-win for workers and employers, and it is expected to gain more popularity as a desired benefit, according to Pollak.

Pollak states that many employers are still under pressure to increase wages and provide extensive and generous benefits due to their difficulty in recruiting and retaining talent.

Employers with limited budgets are striving to provide flexibility to their employees, which is highly valued by them but does not significantly impact the company's financials as much as salary increases.

Workers are increasingly choosing new jobs with less stress over flexibility.

According to ZipRecruiter data, the second-most common reason people accepted a new job offer was because it was less stressful, ahead of liking company culture.

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