This week, we’re covering:
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
Job Market Stuck in “No-Hire, No-Fire” in 2026
Employees Say AI Does More Harm Than Good
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
The jobless rate for young women in the U.K. rose from 9.5% to 11.8% in 2024 and unemployment numbers increasingly skew female, according to PwC’s latest Women in Work Index. [Fortune, subscription model]
In a survey conducted by Atlas HXM, 67% of organizations in the U.S. said that due to changing immigration policies, they’re accelerating workforce and hiring decisions.. [HR Dive]
31% of women reported being “very often or always” burned out at work, versus 23% of men, per a recent Gallup poll. However, women still outpace employee engagement (34%) compared to men (28%). [HR Brew]
Job Market Stuck in “No-Hire, No-Fire” in 2026
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January job openings and labor turnover survey (JOLTS) suggests that the job market is expected to remain stagnant in 2026, with hiring and quitting activity continuing to reflect a “no-hire, no-fire” labor market. Even though job openings have increased to nearly 7 million, workers are hesitant to switch jobs, and employers are pulling back on layoffs due to ongoing economic uncertainty. As a result, total hires in January remained unchanged month over month at 5.3 million. [HR Brew]
Employees Say AI Does More Harm Than Good
A new JFF survey shows 44% of workers believe AI does more harm than good for job searching, wealth building, and quality of life. Employees point to limited training and uneven access to AI tools, with only about a third feeling adequately supported at work. Ben Pring, vice president of JFF’s Center for Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Work, said the results show "growing concern about the pace of AI adoption and a clear gap in employer support." [HR Dive]
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
Accenture has now made AI proficiency a mandatory requirement for promotion and advancement internally, as part of its $3 billion, multi-year push to integrate AI into company operations and double the company’s pool of AI talent. [Fortune, subscription model]
Pearson is partnering with IT and consulting firm Tata Consultancy Services to integrate AI further into its enterprise learning and assessment content. The collaboration aims to help organizations leverage AI-driven insights to bridge skills gaps within organizations; the two companies will also codevelop AI-led learning products and services.
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
Bridging talent gaps: How colleges can better serve the workforce [University Business]
Units of work: Riipen's Dana Stephenson on experiential learning [Managing the Future of Work; Harvard Business Review]
The Human Edge: Why Culture Is An Organization’s Competitive Advantage [Forbes, subscription model]
Jobs Skills Are Changing Rapidly. What You Need To Prepare [Forbes, subscription model]
AI was supposed to be the end of consultants. It's not happening, Capgemini strategy chief says [Fortune, subscription model]
Women Now Own Over 40% Of U.S. Businesses. Why Entrepreneurship Is Rising [Forbes, subscription model]
This edition of “New Skills, Talent and Development” was drafted by Zoe Almeida and Annie Han and edited by Julia Pasette-Seamon and Erica Price Burns.