A cooler market with hot spots. Skills beat degrees. Managers decide growth. Pipelines move to attention markets. Here is what actually matters for HR this week.

This week’s Paper Cut slices through the spin to give HR and employer brand leaders the insight they actually need. No fluff, just facts.

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📌 Sources & Links:

The Jobs Mirage

Stagflation’s impact on recruiting. Plus, news from EY, Dropbox and more: https://hrexecutive.com/stagflations-impact-on-recruiting-plus-news-from-ey-dropbox-and-more/

U.S. unemployment rate likely steady at 4.3% in September, Chicago Fed says: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-unemployment-rate-likely-steady-43-september-chicago-fed-says-2025-10-02/

US private sector sheds 32,000 jobs in September: https://www.hcamag.com/asia/news/general/us-private-sector-sheds-32000-jobs-in-september/551697

Google Cloud layoffs hit employees as sales reach record highs: https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/google-cloud-layoffs-hit-employees-as-sales-reach-record-highs

China’s K visa backlash: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/china/china-k-visa-backlash-intl-hnk

Skills Beat Signals

LinkedIn’s CEO says these 4 qualities will matter more than fancy degrees: https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ceo-will-college-degrees-matter-ai-future-of-work-2025-10

Hiring managers say they’ll offer more money to candidates with these skills: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/30/hiring-managers-say-theyll-offer-more-money-to-candidates-with-these-skills.html

Citi mandates AI prompt training for employees: https://fortune.com/2025/10/01/citi-ai-prompt-training-mandate-employees-reskilling-workforce-business/

Now OpenAI is coming for LinkedIn: https://www.fastcompany.com/91410238/openai-is-coming-for-linkedin-openai-linkedin-human-resources

Netflix posts GenAI product manager role with high salary range: https://fortune.com/2025/10/02/netflix-gen-ai-product-manager-240k-700k-salary-fully-remote/

The Manager Reset

The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/the-limits-to-hybrid-and-remote-work/

New Research on How the Best Managers Shape Employees’ Careers: https://hbr.org/2025/10/new-research-on-how-the-best-managers-shape-employees-careers

What does job hugging mean for the workplace?: https://www.hrdive.com/news/what-does-job-hugging-mean-for-the-workplace/761431/

‘Conscious unbossing’ is a new workplace trend: https://www.hrdive.com/news/conscious-unbossing-workplace-trend/760946/

Why it Might Pay to Be ‘Playful’ at Work: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/why-it-might-pay-to-be-playful-at-work/91247092

Yes, Food Perks at Work Do Motivate Employees, This Study Says: https://www.inc.com/kit-eaton/yes-food-perks-at-work-do-motivate-employees-this-study-says/91244821

The Pipeline Reboot

HR leaders test TikTok for recruitment marketing: https://www.hr-brew.com/stories/2025/09/23/hr-recruitment-marketing-tiktok

Human Resources: finding the world’s hidden talent: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2025/09/30/human-resources-finding-the-worlds-hidden-talent

Congratulations, Graduates. You’re Unemployed.: https://www.wsj.com/opinion/congratulations-graduates-youre-unemployed-ec2a783d

In a Sea of Tech Talent, Companies Can’t Find the Workers They Want: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/in-a-sea-of-tech-talent-companies-cant-find-the-workers-they-want-76b7983a

China’s K visa backlash complicates mobility: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/china/china-k-visa-backlash-intl-hnk

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#FutureOfWork #EmployerBranding #HRStrategy #SkillsBasedHiring