Human Times

North American Edition

9th September 2026

THE HOT STORY

U.S. labor market loses momentum

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.

U.S. News

HIRING

Federal contractors miss veteran hiring targets

Federal contractors are falling well short of U.S. government goals for hiring military veterans, according to Rand Corp. Among S&P 500 federal contractors, veterans accounted for just 2.4% of new hires in 2025, compared with the government’s 5.1% target, while other contractors reached 4.1%. Rand economist George Zuo said the gap between stated ambitions and actual hiring outcomes represents “red flags.” The analysis also found corporate foundation funding for veteran-related programs fell from about 1% of annual giving in 2014 to 0.3% in 2023, while companies are providing less information about veteran recruitment and retention initiatives. Although overall veteran unemployment is below 4%, the report suggests corporate programs have weakened amid broader reductions in diversity initiatives and diminished federal oversight of contractors.

Wall Street Journal

REMOTE WORK

Remote work: the new normal?

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis has released a new analysis indicating that remote work in the U.S. has plateaued, with nearly 22% of workers aged 16 and older working from home at least part-time in 2025. This marks a slight decrease from 2024, with hybrid work increasing marginally. The study highlights a significant reshuffling across industries, particularly in public administration and information sectors, where remote work has declined. Gleb Tsipursky, Ph.D., emphasized that "work from home has become sticky enough that leaders need better tools than mandates." The findings suggest that companies should focus on structured flexibility and thoughtful hybrid designs to enhance productivity and employee satisfaction. As younger leaders embrace remote work, the analysis serves as a caution against complacency in management practices.

The Hill

WORKFORCE

Labor concerns weigh on consumers

U.S. consumers have become more pessimistic about the labour market and their personal finances, while inflation expectations remained broadly stable in August, according to the New York Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Expectations. Expectations for the unemployment rate a year ahead rose to their highest level since April 2020, while respondents also lowered their assessments of current and future finances and credit availability. One-year inflation expectations remained at 3.6% and five-year expectations at 3%, while the three-year measure eased to 3.2% from 3.3%. The findings come ahead of August’s Consumer Price Index report and the Federal Reserve’s September 15th-16th policy meeting, with its benchmark interest rate currently at 3.50%-3.75% and policymakers divided over whether persistent inflation warrants further tightening.

Reuters

L.A. fast-food workers demand fair shifts

Los Angeles is contemplating an ordinance to extend Fair Work Week scheduling rules to fast-food workers, aiming to provide predictable shifts and paid labor-rights training for many employees. Supporters argue that the predominantly female, immigrant workforce faces erratic hours that disrupt their lives. However, restaurant industry groups warn that the proposal could increase costs and compromise worker privacy. A survey commissioned by McDonald's revealed that about 70% of workers opposed mandatory training. Maria Maldonado, organizing director of the California Fast Food Workers Union, emphasized the importance of training, stating: “If you know there is support to enforce the law, we are going to see a difference in the industry.” The ordinance, introduced by City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, is set for a vote by the full council soon.

Los Angeles Times

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Amazon faces pregnancy discrimination lawsuit

Amazon has been accused of systematically discriminating against thousands of pregnant employees in a proposed nationwide class action filed by four former warehouse workers. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon denied accommodations including chairs, bathroom and water breaks and time off for prenatal appointments, while threatening or dismissing workers who took too much time off. The case seeks lost pay and benefits, punitive damages and an injunction against pregnancy discrimination. Amazon disputes the allegations, saying it provides pregnancy-related accommodations to tens of thousands of employees annually and approved more than 99.9% of requests in the past year. The lawsuit follows similar legal action against Amazon by New Jersey and an earlier case brought by New York.

USA Today

Reuters

Wall Street Journal

LEGAL

NLRB boosts efficiency with new judges

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has appointed five new administrative law judges—David Goldman, Lisa Dunn, Stephanie Cotilla Eitzen, Zuzana Murarova, and Steven Wyllie—to expedite the processing of unfair labor practice cases. This strategic move aims to address the agency's significant case backlog and ongoing staffing challenges. The NLRB stated that these appointments are part of a broader hiring initiative to enhance operational efficiency. As the agency noted, the new judges will help "accelerate its handling of cases," ensuring a more effective response to labor disputes.

Bloomberg Law

Mass exodus: 18 employees jump ship

Willis Towers Watson Northeast has filed a lawsuit in Boston after 18 employees resigned in a rapid 44-minute span on August 19, joining rival Lockton and allegedly taking clients with them. The company claims this mass departure was orchestrated by Lockton, describing it as a “smash and grab” of its workforce and client relationships. The departing employees, primarily from Massachusetts, represented over $5m in annual revenue for WTW. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Lockton to prevent further solicitation and servicing of certain accounts. WTW stated: “The size and significance of this raid... require commensurate relief.” A hearing for the injunction was scheduled for August 26 but has not yet occurred, as the parties may be negotiating a resolution outside of court.

Boston Globe

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI layoffs? Think again!

For two years, discussions around AI have focused on its impact on job losses, particularly among white-collar workers. However, a new Bureau of Economic Analysis working paper suggests that AI may actually be linked to job growth. The study indicates that states and industries with higher AI utilization have seen increased output and employment since 2020. "The companies using AI most are growing and hiring," said Christos A. Makridis, an associate research professor at Arizona State University. Additionally, firms that adopted AI intensively increased their employee headcount by about 10% over two years. The findings challenge the narrative of an impending AI-driven job apocalypse, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to ensure small businesses can effectively leverage AI for growth.

The Hill

Anthropic researcher quits over AI risks

Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon is leaving the AI industry over concerns that companies are racing to develop self-improving systems that could become uncontrollable. Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI, said competitive pressures make safety trade-offs inevitable even at companies committed to responsible development. “We’re on track for a lot of the most aggressive of these scenarios,” he warned. His departure follows similar concerns from researchers and executives at Anthropic and OpenAI, including calls for coordinated industry slowdowns and government intervention. More than 1,000 AI researchers have backed mechanisms to slow development if necessary, while lawmakers have proposed tighter controls. Coxon argues that developing systems capable of outperforming humans across many tasks cannot be done responsibly without stronger external safeguards.

Wall Street Journal

Google Cloud and Accenture deepen AI push

Google Cloud and Accenture have formed the Accenture Gemini Enterprise Business Group to help companies deploy Google Cloud’s agentic AI platform and generate stronger returns from AI investments. Google Cloud will help train up to 1,000 Accenture forward-deployed engineers who will work on-site with customers to identify business processes that can be redesigned with AI, build customized applications, integrate corporate data, and prepare solutions for broader deployment. The initiative addresses persistent challenges with enterprise AI adoption, including integration with existing systems, customization for specific business needs, and organizational change. Accenture chief executive Julie Sweet said many companies are struggling to translate AI investment into bottom-line impact. The partnership enters an increasingly competitive market as OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and others expand similar forward-deployed engineering programs.

Wall Street Journal

AI slashes trading firm costs

Bracket22 founder Brian Kelly says artificial intelligence has dramatically changed how his trading firm operates, cutting annual labour costs from more than $5m to about $30,000-$40,000. AI agents now support tasks including technical analysis and quantitative strategies across cryptocurrencies, stocks and commodities. Kelly said: “I’m at least 10 times more productive,” arguing that AI can significantly amplify individual output. His experience reflects wider experimentation across Wall Street, including at JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, although some remain concerned that excessive reliance on AI could weaken human judgment and reasoning.

CNBC

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

American students lose ground in reading and math

U.S. students have recorded a sharp decline in reading performance since 2022, with scores for 15-year-olds approaching their lowest level in 25 years, while math results remain among the weakest since Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) testing began in 2000. Although the U.S. continues to perform above the OECD average in reading and science, and around the middle of the pack in math, it remains well behind leading education systems, including Singapore, Japan, Korea, and the Chinese regions included in the assessment. Only 8% of American teenagers reached the highest proficiency levels in math, compared with 37% in Singapore, 23% in Korea, and 22% in Japan, while the share of U.S. students failing to reach basic proficiency in reading and math has risen over the past decade.

Chalkbeat

Education Week News

New York Times

INTERNATIONAL

Italy leads EU pay transparency shift

Most EU countries missed the June deadline to implement the Pay Transparency Directive, designed to reduce pay discrimination and improve salary visibility for jobseekers. Italy has emerged as a leading adopter, with the share of job postings containing salary information rising from 26% in July 2025 to 61% in July 2026, overtaking the UK at 60%. Germany and Spain remain far behind at 14% and 18%, respectively, while France stands at 43% and the Netherlands at 49.5%. Italy requires employers to include starting salaries or pay ranges directly in advertisements, going beyond the directive’s baseline requirements. Pawel Adrjan, Indeed’s director of economic research, said the country’s experience suggests “regulation is making a real difference.” Advocates argue broader implementation could help address the EU gender pay gap, which stood at 11.1% in 2024. However, delayed implementation elsewhere means salary transparency remains inconsistent across Europe.

Euro News

AND FINALLY...

Gender row towers over Paris

The Eiffel Tower reopened to the public on Tuesday after a one-day closure due to a strike protesting management's "unacceptable" instructions regarding female staff during a visit by a Hindu delegation. Diane Davoine of the CGT union expressed that staff were angered by the directive that female workers should "not be in contact" with the delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The group later apologized for any inconvenience caused. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation, stating, "Gender equality will never stop at the foot of our historic monuments." The iconic tower, which attracts around 7m visitors annually, has faced closures before due to employee strikes.

The Gazette Cedar Rapids Iowa

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