数据显示压力上升：2025 年美国失业率走高至 4.6%。11 月高中毕业者失业约 4.4% 持平，但大学学士族群失业率升至 2.9%，高于一年前的 2.5%。10 月对约 2,200 名使用者的调查称，约三分之一曾为「工作勾搭」而配对；其中三分之二锁定在理想雇主任职者，四分之三锁定目标职务相近者。
这股作法不只限于年轻族群：调查中近一半的「用交友软体求职」者年收超过 20 万美元。平台端也观察到用途扩张：Grindr 约有 1,500 万月均使用者，约四分之一把它用于人脉／社交式 networking；但 Bumble、Tinder、Hinge 等多以规范或使命感反对「把约会变商务」。同时，非典型使用也伴随界线模糊：38% 的「为工作配对」者仍发生过亲密关系。
Facing a weaker job market and AI-heavy hiring funnels, some US job seekers are repurposing dating apps (Hinge, Grindr, etc.) as networking channels to reach real humans for referrals and interviews. Anecdotes span ages 18–28, including a 20-year-old student tailoring her profile for internships and an 18-year-old startup director receiving overt job requests after matches saw his title.
The labor backdrop shows upward pressure: US unemployment rose through 2025 to 4.6%. In November, unemployed high school graduates held near 4.4%, while the bachelor’s-degree jobless rate increased to 2.9% from 2.5% a year earlier. A ResumeBuilder.com survey of ~2,200 users (October) found ~1 in 3 sought job-related matches; 2 in 3 targeted people at desirable employers; 3 in 4 targeted roles they wanted.
The behavior is not only Gen Z: nearly half of job-seeking “swipers” reported incomes above $200,000, implying seniority. Platforms are noticing mixed use cases: Grindr reports ~15 million monthly average users and says ~1/4 use it for networking alongside dating and friendship. Other apps discourage “biz” use, but outcomes can blur lines—38% of job-motivated matches also became physical relationships.
