When employers struggle to fill open positions, the conversation often turns to wages. The assumption is straightforward: if employers paid more, they would attract more applicants and hiring would become easier. A new study published in the European Economic Review suggests the reality may be far more complex. Researchers examined hiring behavior using survey data
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Hosted by the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP)Presenter: Monica Dukes, U.S. Census Bureau Date: May 13, 2026Time: 2:00 PM Eastern | 1:00 PM Central | 12:00 PM Mountain | 11:00 AM Pacific Every day, workforce professionals are expected to make important decisions based on changing labor market conditions, economic trends, and community needs. Yet
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Executive Summary The U.S. labor market in 2026 is stable on the surface but rapidly evolving underneath. Employers are refining hiring strategies, technology is reshaping job roles, and demographic pressures are intensifying. For members of the International Association of Workforce Professionals (IAWP)—especially front‑line workforce staff—these shifts highlight the importance of adaptability, strong employer engagement, and
Workforce Trends Roundup — May 2026 Feature Edition Read More »
For years, workforce development has often been described through the language of programs, eligibility, case files, and placements. Those things still matter. They are part of the work. But something larger has been happening quietly underneath the surface. The role itself is changing. Many workforce professionals today are already doing far more than traditional case
A recent announcement from the Rockefeller Foundation highlights a significant new investment in the future of work: a $100 million, three-year initiative aimed at connecting Americans to “good jobs” in the face of rapid economic and technological change. At first glance, this may read like another large-scale funding announcement. But for workforce professionals, it signals
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You’re going to start seeing a shift in the people you serve — and in the questions they ask. Workforce Pell is opening the door for people to use Pell Grants for short-term training programs. That means more individuals will be able to pay for training without going through the usual workforce funding process. And
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Workers aren’t waiting for programs to catch up. Right now, millions of people are quietly building new skills on their own time, using tools that are mostly free, mostly online, and mostly invisible to the workforce development system. As practitioners, that matters — because it’s changing who walks through your door and what they actually
When most people think about Registered Apprenticeships, the image is still tied to traditional trades—roles with long-established pathways and clear progression. That remains true. But it is no longer the full picture. A recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor signals something important: apprenticeships are moving directly into the world of artificial intelligence. Not
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Artificial intelligence is no longer something on the horizon. It’s already showing up in hiring, changing how jobs are done, and quietly reshaping expectations across industries. The real question isn’t whether AI will impact the workforce. It already is.The question is whether workers—and the systems that support them—are keeping up. A recent national initiative from
The Next Workforce Shift Is Already Here—And NSF Is Moving Fast Read More »
If you step back from the headlines, the newest insights coming out of Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI don’t point to a simple story about AI replacing jobs. They point to something more complex—and more important for workforce professionals to understand. This is not a collapse. It’s a restructuring. The Job Market Isn’t Breaking—But It
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