Episode 21 of the Bots and Bosses podcast (Nov 6, 2025) digs into the federal government’s plan to solve a growing tech talent shortage through three pillars: building early-career pipelines, centralizing hiring for high-demand roles, and modernizing job architectures for specialized skills like cyber, cloud, and data.

OPM’s approach emphasizes hiring for adaptability and learning ability rather than tenure, using AI as a tool to accelerate skill development, while pushing agencies and HR to upskill staff, break down silos, and create shared talent pathways.

The episode also covers the cultural and practical risks — over-centralization, candidate experience, and change resistance — and offers pragmatic steps agency leaders can take now to map jobs, invest in training, and coordinate with OPM to make the initiative succeed.