This week, we’re covering:
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
New Report Links Job Security With Continuous Upskilling
Unlocking Talent: Scaling English Upskilling for a Stronger Workforce
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
A new Indeed report revealed that over 70% of job postings include business operations skills (including things like customer service, administration, and human resources), followed by communication skills (42% of jobs) and technology skills (34%). The report argues that the prevalence of business operations skills in job postings makes these skills particularly valuable for workers.
The majority (~60%) of American workers surveyed say they would prioritize working for a company that values their well-being over a 10% raise. A near majority (51%) say they value learning, growth, and the opportunity for development above a higher salary. [Forbes, subscription model]
Workers displaced by new technologies experience persistently lower earnings and lower rates of job security than never-displaced workers in the decade following their job loss, according to new research from Goldman Sachs. [Fortune, subscription model]
About 90% of American workers surveyed say they use AI daily at work, but 35% report having received no training from their organization on how to do so. [HR Brew]
New Report Links Job Security With Continuous Upskilling
According to ETS’ 2026 Human Progress Report, two-thirds (67%) of workers experienced at least one major change in the workplace over the past 12 months, particularly in terms of the technologies and tools used for work (43%), the job skills required (42%), and job expectations and responsibilities. The majority (69%) of workers say they don’t have a clear understanding of what jobs will look like in 2035. Meanwhile, more than three-quarters are trying to proactively diversify their skill sets to protect their careers—many through credentialing pathways, though access remains a challenge.
Unlocking Talent: Scaling English Upskilling for a Stronger Workforce
Across the country, state and local leaders are facing the same challenge: persistent labor shortages, widening skills gaps, and too many workers left on the sidelines. But what if a key solution is already within reach?
Join WES, EnGen, and state leaders for a conversation on how career-aligned English upskilling is helping communities unlock untapped talent, strengthen workforce pipelines, and meet employer demand—without starting from scratch.
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
The Department of Labor and the National Science Foundation are partnering on a new national initiative to expand AI skills, training access, and economic readiness. Last week, the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop AI work training and literacy programs, as well as research on AI’s impact on the economy and new workforce development strategies. This new partnership supports the National Science Foundation’s ongoing TechAccess: AI-Ready America initiative, which also aims to coordinate AI readiness and accelerate its deployment across the country. [ExecutiveGov]
Upskilling platform Flashpass raised $4.25 million in a seed round last month; the round was led by VC firm J2 Ventures, with participation from Seven Stars Ventures, RiverPark Ventures, and Uncommon Projects. Flashpass offers industry-recognized micro-certifications, as well as scholarships and education programs, in a range of sectors, and seeks to invest the funding into new product development. [Detroit Free-Press]
Workforce tech company FutureFit AI announced a strategic investment from private equity firm Achieve Partners this week. FutureFit AI, a platform which aims to connect education and the workforce through skill-based matching and career navigation tools, will use the funding to expand its services into new regions and further scale its infrastructure. [Pulse 2.0]
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
I was a government official in the 1990s and watched the economy get turned upside-down. It's happening again [Fortune, subscription model]
The Entry-Level Talent Pipeline Is Breaking — Here’s How L&D Can Fix It [Training Industry]
Apprenticeship Can Solve The U.S. Economy’s Entry-Level Worker Paradox [RealClear Education]
The Hidden Demand for AI Inside Your Company [Harvard Business Review, subscription model]
LinkedIn CEO Says AI Is Boosting the Value of These 4 Soft Skills [Business Insider, subscription model]
This edition of “New Skills, Talent and Development” was drafted by Zoe Almeida and edited by Julia Pasette-Seamon and Erica Price Burns.