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Human Times helps you stay ahead of the latest news and trends that impact the HR industry. Every weekday, our unique blend of AI and team of expert HR and employment editors and researchers monitor 100,000s of articles, and social posts to create summaries of the most relevant and useful content to help you lead, innovate and grow. The award winning Human Times newsletter has four geographical editions with news tailored to your region.
From HR leadership to diversity and inclusion, hybrid working, organisational data, performance management, and retention strategies, Human Times is the only trusted free online news source dedicated to covering the most up to date headlines, articles, reports and interviews to make sure you’re abreast of changes in the HR industry.
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Recent Editions
Human Times
North America
The job market is stabilizing, but workers are losing their advantage. In 2026, the labor market has added an average of 87,000 jobs per month, which is an improvement from 2025 but significantly lower than 2024's figures. "We're a ways off from the days of 8m or more job openings," said Sneha Puri, economist at Indeed Hiring Lab. Job openings have decreased from 12.3m in March 2022 to 7.3m in July 2026. As firms focus on retaining employees, job seekers must be patient and strategic in their approach. Amy Glaser, senior vice president at Adecco, emphasized the importance of soft skills in the current market. The wage gap between job switchers and stayers has narrowed, indicating a shift in hiring dynamics. Industries like healthcare and manufacturing are currently hiring, while others remain volatile. For those employed, it's a time to celebrate, but job seekers should prepare for a more selective market.
Full Issue
Human Times
UK
UK productivity may be entering its strongest period since the financial crisis, with revised measures showing output per job rising 1.4% in the year to June and alternative estimates pointing to faster gains since late 2024. Economists disagree over the cause, but some believe artificial intelligence is beginning to lift output, particularly in information and technology industries. John van Reenen of the London School of Economics called the improvement a "remarkable turnaround" that could represent "the first macroeconomic flowers of the AI boom". UK workers appear especially inclined to use AI to augment knowledge-based work rather than replace employees, although evidence from the US suggests productivity gains may also emerge through slower wage growth. Economists caution that forthcoming official measurements will be crucial in determining whether the recovery is sustained.
Full Issue
Human Times
Europe
Employment and household finances emerged as key dividing lines ahead of Sweden’s general election. Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson argued that four years of rising unemployment and weaker purchasing power had made everyday life harder, while Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed economic growth and tax incentives. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson took a tougher stance on unemployed immigrants, saying those “who aren't employable on the Swedish labour market” should either find work or leave. The competing approaches highlight a broader election choice between stronger welfare support and a right-wing programme combining lower taxes, tighter immigration controls and tougher expectations around employment. Polls showed the left narrowly ahead, although the final result remained highly uncertain.
Full Issue
Human Times
Middle East
UAE employers are increasingly moving beyond Emiratisation hiring targets to focus on retaining and developing national talent. A Hays survey of 531 UAE employers found 42% planned to hire Emiratis this year and 55% already employed UAE nationals. Private-sector Emirati employment has risen sharply, exceeding 141,000 people across 28,000 companies by May 2025, alongside tighter compliance monitoring. Nicole Habchi, associate business manager for Emiratisation at Hays Middle East, said: “Retention should begin before the hiring process even starts.” Hays argues employers should define career progression, skills development, mentorship and leadership opportunities before recruitment. As competition grows, organisations offering clear long-term career paths, structured development programmes and regular career planning may be better positioned to retain Emirati professionals and build sustainable leadership pipelines.
Full Issue
Read the latest HR highlights
How HR is Tackling Long Covid?
Fingers remain tightly crossed around the world that the rampant hospitalization and fatality stage of the Covid-19 pandemic has generally peaked. Vaccination programmes are accelerating, and restrictions are gradually being lifted...
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ESG Is Not Just Another Name For CSR
Back in the distant 1980s if you wanted to demonstrate your environmental and ethical credentials it was sufficient to shop at or purchase shares in retailer The Body Shop. The charismatic Anita Roddick, founder of the “hippy” tinged retail chain, heralded a new age of environmental concern, caring capitalism and corporate awareness that evolved into what became known as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR was much talked about and lauded, but in reality often ended up being a lot of a hot air (excuse the pun) and often never progressed much beyond a footnote in the annual report.
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Have Older Workers Paid The Highest COVID-19 Price?
Across the world the pandemic is slowly but surely moving into its next phase. Recovery beckons. As furlough schemes across the U.S. and U.K. are being wound down, restrictions eased or lifted, and workforces moving back up the gears, early signs indicate that older employees are more likely to be casualties of the pandemic aftermath than their younger colleagues. Here at the we have witnessed an increasing number of stories supporting the growing belief that older workers are disproportionately paying the highest Covid-19 price.
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Bosses. What's not to like? Plenty, say employees
“You’ll never have another boss like me, someone who’s basically a chilled-out entertainer”
So said, David Brent, the fictional manager of Slough-based paper merchant Wernham Hogg in the seminal TV comedy The Office. Ricky Gervais’s portrayal of Brent as a flawed, narcissistic, incompetent, and deluded manager was so well observed that many (including me) believed it was a genuine fly-on-the-wall documentary when they alighted accidentally on the first ever episode.
Rolling with the Payroll
To mark National Payroll Week the team at the Human Times has provided some insight into the industry that we hope you’ll find useful.
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