Jobs, AI & Career: Top HR Trends for the Week

21%

21% of U.S. workers feel their career future is out of their control, with 50% reporting burnout—the highest ever recorded by the Career Optimism Index. 71% believe upskilling is essential for career growth, yet 43% lack access to needed training. While 86% are actively seeking development, 60% of employers still prefer hiring new talent over training existing staff—risking long-term retention and productivity.

50%

With 50% of HR leaders citing skill shortages as a top 2025 threat, employers are accelerating efforts to build skills-powered organizations, Mercer reports. Nearly 70% have identified critical skills, and 45% now reward skill acquisition—the leading strategy for closing gaps. Companies mapping skills to individuals are almost 2x more successful in attracting in-demand talent, emphasizing the shift from hiring for proficiency to hiring for potential.

19%

A study published on April 3 found that employee pay transparency can boost or lower feelings of entitlement depending on performance rank. Top performers were significantly more likely to demand raises, while lower-ranked peers felt demoralized. Despite the risks, only 19% of U.S. companies have a pay transparency strategy, though 63% plan to share pay info soon. With 75% unprepared for 2025–2026 laws, early adopters may gain a fairness and retention edge.

47%

According to BSI’s 2025 Global Workforce Entrants Study, 47% of employees who began working during or since the pandemic now prefer onsite work—20% prefer mostly onsite, while 27% want fully onsite roles. Just 16% of employees want a fully remote role, whereas 37% lean toward hybrid work. The shift suggests that early-career workers may value structure, connection, or in-person learning opportunities post-pandemic.

$546,000

Office jargon may be costing businesses serious money issue, up to $546,000 annually for small firms (100 employees) and $6 million for mid-size companies (1,000 employees) due to miscommunication, according to Kickresume. Workers lose 7.47 hours per week on unclear language, with 85% of entry-level pros viewing jargon negatively.