Breaking Job News: Workforce Megatrends Shaping 2026 & Entry-Level Hiring Crisis

Hiring in 2026 is off to a rough start. Entry-level jobs still demand experience, ghost postings keep candidates in limbo, and AI is widening the gap between workers moving faster and those getting left behind.

In this episode of Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome breaks down fresh data from Forbes, Indeed’s Hiring Lab, and UKG to explain what’s actually happening in the job market and what to do about it. He covers why entry-level hiring remains broken, how AI adoption is splitting the workforce, and why encouragement and training matter more than age or job title. You’ll also hear why people-first AI, flexible talent models, and real enablement, not engagement theater, are shaping retention and performance in 2026.

Whether you’re a job seeker trying to stand out or a leader rethinking hiring and workforce strategy, this episode offers a practical roadmap for turning uncertainty into momentum.

Additional Resources:
1. Introducing the 2026 UKG Megatrends: https://www.ukg.com/blog/executive-leaders/introducing-2026-ukg-megatrends-what-leaders-need-know-about-year-ahead
2. A Tale of Two Workforces: Who’s Using AI and Who’s Getting Left Behind: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/12/29/two-workforces-whos-using-ai-and-whos-getting-left-behind/
3. The Entry-Level Hiring Crisis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/colleenbatchelder/2026/01/05/the-entry-level-hiring-crisis-is-getting-worse-in-2026/

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👋 FOLLOW PETE NEWSOME ONLINE:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petenewsome/
Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog