The Great Resignation. "Quiet quitting." Remote work. Office mandates and resulting backlashes. Hiring booms and decelerations. To say the past couple years have been tumultuous in the world of work is perhaps an understatement—and with a recession looming on the horizon, the new year threatens to be even more of a roller coaster.

The inaugural Monster Work Watch Report sends a number of mixed messages about where we might be headed: Employers say they plan to hire in 2023 in spite of economic prognostications, but the economy is forcing 3 out of 4 workers to take on more than one job. Staffing shortages are still all too common, as is employee burnout. Workers still want flexibility in hours and location, but employers are less enthusiastic about offering that than they were a year ago.

Nevertheless, says U.S. News & World Report, the attributes of ideal jobs remain constant: "They pay well, challenge us year after year, match our talents and skills, aren't too stressful, offer room to advance throughout our careers, and provide a satisfying work-life balance." Using those hallmarks as a foundation, the magazine has published its 100 Best Jobs of 2023 report.