On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) officially published new regulations governing the federal Workforce Pell program. As we’ve covered previously, the creation of these rules has been a nearly year-long process initiated following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act/Working Families Tax Cut Act in July 2025. As part of that law, Congress mandated the creation of a federal Workforce Pell program that allows individuals to use Pell grants for short-term training programs.
This week, we’re covering:
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
UpSkill America Seeks Employer Insights on Workforce Upskilling
New Report Links Long-Term Opportunity to Education, Workforce Growth, and Community Support
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
Workforce and Labor Trends, By the Numbers
Despite the availability of AI tools to address bias, only 7% of HR professionals reported currently using AI to identify and address biases, disparities, or inequities when hiring, evaluating, promoting, or paying employees. [HR Brew]
62% of Gen Z employees say they rely too much on AI at work, and 40% report that they couldn’t get by without AI. [Fortune, subscription model]
Meanwhile, 19% of employees say they don’t save any time with AI, according to research from Gartner. [HR Dive]
UpSkill America Seeks Employer Insights on Workforce Upskilling
UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute is administering a new survey to better understand how employers are investing in skill development opportunities for workers, particularly frontline employees. The findings will help identify trends, challenges, and promising practices in employer-led upskilling efforts, with all responses reported anonymously and only in aggregate form. Participants also have the opportunity to connect with researchers to share additional insights and real-world stories about successful workforce development initiatives.
New Report Links Long-Term Opportunity to Education, Workforce Growth, and Community Support
A new Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report explores how Americans define opportunity and what conditions help individuals and communities thrive. Based on responses from nearly 7,000 adults nationwide, the research finds that opportunity is closely tied to access to education, career pathways, and supportive community systems, reinforcing the importance of initiatives that help workers gain new skills, advance professionally, and feel empowered to contribute to the long-term success of their communities.
Partnerships, Investments, and Company Innovation
Multiverse, a platform that analyzes workforce capabilities against corporate objectives and provides recommendations for AI, data, and digital upskilling, has secured $70 million in new funding to fuel its continued expansion across Europe, bringing the company’s valuation to $2.1 billion. The company said the investment will help meet rising enterprise demand for AI and digital skills training, while also noting 50% annual revenue growth and its first cash-flow-positive quarter in early 2026.
Anthropic and KPMG announced a global alliance to integrate Anthropic’s Claude AI technology across KPMG’s client services platform and workforce of more than 276,000 employees worldwide. The partnership will initially focus on tax, legal, and private equity services, with the firms saying the collaboration aims to accelerate AI adoption, improve productivity, and help clients build AI-powered workflows while emphasizing security, trust, and responsible AI governance.
Safal Partners announced a new national initiative to help workforce systems better integrate and expand Registered Apprenticeship programs, funded by a $2.1 million grant from Ascendium Education Group. The initiative will provide six state cohorts with technical assistance, training, and resources to improve alignment between apprenticeship opportunities and workforce development systems.
What We’re Reading (And Listening To)
🎥 Cutting Through the Noise: Building Trust in Digital Mental Health [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
AI is coming for Workday (but not in the way you think) [HR Executive]
3 ways leaders can encourage successful AI adoption [Fast Company, subscription model]
Goldman Sachs: The U.S. labor market is healthier now than when ChatGPT launched. Yes, really [Fortune, subscription model]
What Really Gets in the Way of Change [Harvard Business Review]
Most CEOs say boards are too trigger-happy on AI transformation, a survey found [Business Insider, subscription model]
How to Upskill for Cybersecurity and Stay Ahead in the Age of AI [Government Technology]
McKinsey says clients are getting $3 back for every $1 spent on AI: 'Not too shabby.' [Business Insider, 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.