The job market is sending mixed signals, record-low unemployment claims on one hand, nonstop layoff posts on your feed on the other. What’s really going on? In this episode, host Pete Newsome breaks down the contradiction and uncover the forces reshaping work in real time. 

He explains why jobless claims just hit a two-year low, even as several states report layoffs across construction, retail, manufacturing, warehousing, and professional services. Pete also digs into why planned hiring is now running at its weakest pace since 2010, and how industry, geography, and skill mix are creating dramatically different realities within the same city, or even the same company.

Then he gets candid about AI’s role in job cuts. Some forecasts say companies may soon pull back, but today’s data shows continued momentum. You’ll learn how AI is influencing workforce decisions, which tasks are most exposed, and how to upskill in ways that actually boost your resilience, think measurable impact, domain expertise, and the collaborative skills AI still can’t touch.

He also breaks down a surprising trend: interviewing is getting more expensive. This year, 84% of job seekers paid out of pocket for in-person interviews, covering everything from gas to childcare. Pete shares what’s worth investing in, and what you can skip, plus the free and low-cost resources (including AI tools) that can help you prep without burning cash.

Finally, he unpacks the benefits shaping today’s job decisions. Health insurance, paid vacation, and sick time remain the top motivators across generations, while younger workers push for flexibility, learning support, childcare help, and commuter benefits. As healthcare costs climb, benefits are becoming a major competitive edge for employers and a crucial part of evaluating total compensation for candidates.

News Articles:
1. Department of Labor Report: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/newsreleases/ui-claims/20251536.pdf
2. Dec 04 Challenger Report: 71,321 Job Cuts on Restructurings, Closings, Economy: https://www.challengergray.com/blog/challenger-report-71321-job-cuts-on-restructurings-closings-economy/
3. Job Seekers Find In-Person Interviews Come with Hefty Costs: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/news/hidden-hiring-costs
4. “Classic” Employer Benefits Are A Strong Draw For US Job Seekers Across Ages: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/12/04/classic-employer-benefits-are-a-strong-draw-for-us-job-seekers/

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The biggest shift in today’s job market isn’t happening in tech; it’s happening in the everyday tasks no one talks about. MIT’s new Project Iceberg shows that while coding and engineering get the AI spotlight, the real exposure is buried in admin, finance, and professional services. That hidden layer is 5× larger, and it’s already reshaping careers: early-career employment in exposed roles is down 13%, and AI task fluency is quickly becoming the new baseline for advancement.

Host Pete Newsome also digs into a stunning labor reality: 100% of 2025 job growth came from just two sectors, healthcare and leisure & hospitality. Everywhere else? Flat or shrinking. And in a market this tight, AI skills are no longer optional. With 78% of IT job postings across G7 countries requiring AI, Pete breaks down fast, practical ways to build credibility without another degree, small tools, measurable wins, and a portfolio that shows real impact.

But there’s real pain too. After acquiring Interpublic Group, Omnicom is cutting 4,000+ jobs and retiring multiple legacy agencies. Pete shares the steps workers should take now: modernize your resume around outcomes, activate your network with clear asks, and pivot toward roles where your workflow expertise plus AI leverage becomes hard to replace.

News Articles:
1. MIT's Project Iceberg: https://iceberg.mit.edu/
2. Just Two Sectors Account for 100% of US Job Growth in 2025: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-20/just-two-sectors-account-for-100-of-us-job-growth-in-2025?srnd=phx-management-work
3. 78% of IT Job Postings Already Require AI Skills: https://www.cio.com/article/4094687/without-ai-the-it-job-market-would-hardly-be-possible-anymore.html
4. Omnicom to Cut Over 4,000 Jobs: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/omnicom-cut-4000-jobs-shut-several-agencies-after-ipg-takeover-ft-reports-2025-12-01/

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Hiring slows, holiday roles stall, and the data tells a more complicated story than the headlines. Host Pete Newsome unpacks fresh numbers from ADP and The Conference Board to explain why the labor market feels soft even as certain indicators flicker up. Then he zooms in on the most underreported shift: the gig economy’s short-term dip amid a long-term rise, fueled not by students or side hustlers but by seasoned pros. Older, highly skilled workers are choosing independent contracts for flexibility, expertise premiums, and, for some, needed income. That silver gig economy is redefining who freelances and what clients expect from project-based work.

Pete also breaks down a new McKinsey view of work organized around humans, AI agents, and robots. The headline stat is hard to ignore: 57% of current U.S. tasks can be automated with today’s technology. Jobs won’t vanish overnight, but tasks will, and the teams that rethink workflows fastest will win on cost, speed, and quality. He talks candidly about where AI excels, where human judgment still dominates, and why the boundary keeps moving. If you’re early in your career, note this: demand for AI fluency in job postings has surged sevenfold in two years. Pete outlines simple ways to build practical AI skills without buying expensive courses: map your tasks, identify quick wins, document time saved, and turn personal gains into team-level systems.

Finally, he tackles the persistent hiring paradox: 1 in 3 small businesses say they can’t fill open roles. When candidate supply is high, unfilled seats point to fixable problems, unclear scopes, slow loops, unrealistic requirements, weak sourcing, or misaligned pay bands. We offer a straightforward audit to diagnose bottlenecks and get offers out faster. Along the way, you’ll get a clear picture of what’s changing, what’s noise, and how to stay valuable as automation accelerates. 

News Articles:
1. ADP NER Pulse: https://www.adpresearch.com/a-silver-twist-on-the-gig-economy/
2. McKinsey AI Agents and Robots Report: https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/agents-robots-and-us-skill-partnerships-in-the-age-of-ai
3. Conference Board Employment Trends Index Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-conference-board-employment-trends-index-eti-ticked-up-in-september-302624609.html

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Imagine opening the holidays with a layoff notice. For nearly a third of workers, that’s now a real possibility. A new national survey says nearly one in three companies plans to cut staff before New Year’s, and the reasons go far beyond budget tightening. In today's Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome breaks down why end-of-year layoffs spike, from Q1 cost-cutting and bonus avoidance to leadership pressure to “reset” headcount before January.

He also confronts a growing ethical dilemma: most companies now say they’ll use AI to identify which roles should be eliminated. With 69% planning to use AI to flag positions and 66% planning to use AI in the layoff process itself, we explore what this means for fairness, transparency, and the future of leadership accountability when algorithms influence people’s livelihoods.

Then Pete turns to a massive new ADP analysis showing the gig economy is actually two different labor markets. W-2 temporary workers and 1099 contractors live very different realities, from pay gaps and hours worked to the industries where each thrives. Pete breaks down contractor rates, specialized skill premiums, and what today’s data means for anyone eyeing freelance work, career pivots, or a diversified client pipeline.

Finally, he examines a major restructuring at one of America’s largest telecom companies, resulting in 13,000+ layoffs affecting non-union management. We look at whether service quality can improve after cuts of this size, what needs protecting on the front lines, and how workers can adapt as legacy employers reshape their operating models under competitive pressure.

💬What do you think: Do you think the gig economy will continue growing, or has it peaked? 

News Articles:
1. 3 in 10 Companies Will Lay Off Employees During the Holidays: https://www.resume.org/3-in-10-companies-will-lay-off-employees-during-the-holidays/
2. Verizon Layoffs: https://apnews.com/article/verizon-layoffs-economy-jobs-1aa299fc28b8e7211188f9b084d1048c
3. The gig economy- A tale of two labor markets: https://www.adpresearch.com/the-gig-economy-a-tale-of-two-labor-markets/

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Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog

What do you do when one of the most important signals in the labor market vanishes? Today's Breaking Job News dives into the unprecedented cancellation of October’s BLS Jobs Report and what it means to lose the unemployment rate, labor-force participation, and the demographic details we rely on to understand the job market. With only September’s numbers available, 119,000 jobs added, unemployment at 4.4%, and more downward revisions, host Pete Newsome breaks down where momentum is slowing, where it’s holding up, and why healthcare continues to prop up national job growth.

Then he explores the surprising split in ZipRecruiter’s Q4 Job Seeker Confidence Survey. Market expectations plunge to record lows, yet preparedness hits an all-time high. Nearly 27.3% of job seekers say they feel completely confident they’ll land a role within 30 days, even as holiday hiring cools. From one-click applies to broken pipelines, Pete digs into why ghosting remains the number-one frustration for candidates and how simple feedback mechanisms could rebuild trust without slowing recruiters down.

Looking ahead, Indeed’s trends point to a “low hire, low fire” environment through 2026: slow growth, minimal cuts, and huge gaps across regions and sectors. Healthcare roles remain well above pre-COVID norms, while tech, retail, and hospitality lag, offering a realistic roadmap for job seekers seeking durable skills and stable opportunities. Pete wraps by connecting the release of Windows 1.0 to today’s AI revolution, showing why AI literacy and workflow integration are quickly becoming the baseline for productivity and long-term career resilience.

News Articles:
1. BLS September Jobs Report: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
2. Indeed’s 2026 US Jobs & Hiring Trends Report: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/11/20/indeed-2026-us-jobs-hiring-trends-report/
3. The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey: https://www.ziprecruiter-research.org/job-seeker-confidence

💬What do you think: How confident are you in your own career prospects heading into 2026?

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The job market is shifting faster than anyone expected, and most people have no idea what’s coming. Hiring is slowing, mobility is freezing, and new AI warnings are targeting the exact white-collar jobs millions rely on. In today’s Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome reveals the data, the signals, and the hidden risks shaping your career right now.

He starts with the truth behind the “low-hire, low-fire” job market that’s trapping workers in place. Fewer openings mean tougher competition, stalled promotions, and a harder path for new grads and mid-career pros trying to level up. Retention looks strong on paper, but within companies, movement is slowing to a crawl, reshaping the path to advancement.

Then Pete turned to Georgetown University, where AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton delivered his most direct warning yet: AI isn’t just changing work… It’s designed to replace it. From software development and financial analysis to marketing, customer support, legal research, and even middle management, white-collar roles are in the crosshairs. Students in the audience overwhelmingly believed AI would damage their career prospects, not boost them, and the data backs up their fear.

But this episode isn’t just alarm bells. Pete breaks down a real, actionable playbook for staying competitive in an AI-first economy: mastering domain depth, building AI-powered workflows, validating outputs, and turning tools into results employers can measure. For leaders, we outline what effective AI adoption actually looks like, from upskilling programs to oversight standards that prevent risk and accelerate ROI.

💬What do you think: Do you feel it’s harder to move up or switch roles this year? 

News Articles:
1. AI Warning From Geoffrey Hinton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz3gvM7Oj3g
2. Low-Hire, Low-Fire Job Market for Who? https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/low-hire-low-fire-job-market/
3. ADP's Employee Motivation and Commitment Index (EMCI): https://www.adpresearch.com/employee-sentiment-weakened-in-november/

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Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog

The hiring headlines don’t match the reality, and that mismatch tells the real story. ADP’s latest data shows negative net job growth, yet the share of new hires is rising. How? Host Pete Newsome breaks down the hidden engine behind today’s labor market: a shrinking labor force, rapid retirements among workers 55+, and a wave of replacement hiring that keeps companies running in place rather than expanding. Even as roles refill, new-hire wage growth is the slowest on record, reshaping leverage for job seekers.

Pete also dug into the New York Fed’s newest read on the Northeast service economy, where the employment index has fallen to its lowest level in years. Three consecutive months of job cuts, modest wage gains, and near-flat expectations reveal a defensive hiring posture: leaders trimming at the margins, freezing pay bands, and backfilling only the essentials for candidates, which translates to slower offers, tighter compensation, and a hiring process that feels stickier than the topline numbers suggest.

Then he turns to tenure data from Indeed. Sixteen percent of new hires start applying elsewhere within three months, and the shortest stays cluster in frontline roles with lower pay, demanding hours, and limited advancement. Meanwhile, the longest tenures show up in credentialed, creative, or specialized work, where skills compound, relationships deepen, and career paths are clear. The message for employers is straightforward: reward depth, invest in training, fix scheduling pain points, and build visible mobility if you want people to stay.

News Articles:
1. The Long and Short of Job Tenure: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/11/18/the-long-and-short-of-job-tenure/
2. ADP's The NER Pulse: https://www.adpresearch.com/job-growth-is-sluggish-but-new-hires-are-on-the-upswing-how/
3. NY Fed Business Leaders Survey: https://www.newyorkfed.org/survey/business_leaders/bls_overview#tabs-2

💬 Do you feel like switching jobs is still worth it in this market? 

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The workplace is transforming faster than anyone is prepared for, and today’s data reveals just how uneven the playing field has become. 

In this episode of Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome breaks down the forces reshaping careers in 2025 and beyond. AI adoption is accelerating inside large enterprises, while small businesses struggle to keep pace. Meanwhile, IT leaders sound alarms about rising security risks as agentic AI becomes part of daily workflows.

He digs into the new patchwork of AI hiring laws across the U.S., from mandatory notices and bias audits to human-in-the-loop requirements, revealing how even well-intentioned rules can create a compliance maze if companies don’t build flexible governance now.

Then Pete turns to the human side of today’s labor market. Layoffs are becoming increasingly impersonal, with more workers being notified by email or phone instead of in person. Quiet firing is on the rise due to workload creep, micromanagement, and RTO mandates, which are used to push people out. We explore why maintaining dignity during offboarding isn’t just ethical, but also essential for sustaining a strong culture, fostering brand trust, and achieving future recruiting success.

Finally, he addresses the emotional paradox that millions of workers face: feeling secure in their current role yet uneasy about the broader job market. 

💬 Have you experienced quiet firing or impersonal layoffs in your own workplace?

News Articles:
1. Layoff Lifeline Report: https://zety.com/blog/layoff-lifeline-report
2. ADP HR Trends and Priorities for 2026: https://marketing-assets.adp.com/api/public/content/8179f471128e489caac131f44ac0eb4e?v=88329b93
3. 4CR Q4 2025 Employee Mindset Survey: https://www.4cornerresources.com/surveys/q4-2025-employee-mindset/

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Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog

What if the real crisis for new grads isn’t a lack of jobs, but a hiring market that’s quietly been rewired? In today’s breaking job news, host Pete Newsome breaks down why landing that first role feels harder than ever and uncovers the structural shifts reshaping the entry-level market in 2025.

Pete dives into the data behind the headlines: recent graduate unemployment is outpacing the national average, full-time job postings are shrinking while applications per role surge, and employer confidence is dipping back toward pandemic-era lows. Layered on top of that, he uncovered a more profound mismatch: degree supply hitting all-time highs while most open roles don’t require one, creating a bottleneck around the few “degree-required” jobs that new graduates target.

You’ll learn how layoffs push experienced candidates into junior roles, how AI is siphoning off tasks that once trained early-career workers, and why hiring managers increasingly favor applicants who can contribute on day one. But it’s not all bad news. Pete highlights the sectors that are still hiring aggressively, including support, education, special-needs services, logistics, public service, and advanced manufacturing, and explains why these sectors remain resilient.

💬What do you think: What’s the one strategy you think will move the needle most for new grads today?

News Article:
Companies Predict 2026 Will Be the Worst College Grad Job Market in Five Years: https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/2026-graduates-job-market-7928bcd7

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With BLS data frozen during the shutdown, there is no employment report, no CPI, and no benchmarks; employers, investors, and policymakers are suddenly flying blind. In today’s Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome digs into how the loss of federal data is reshaping hiring plans, slowing approvals, extending recruiting cycles, and dialing up uncertainty at the exact moment companies were hoping for clarity.

He breaks down what private-sector indicators are showing in the absence of BLS continuity, why leaders default to caution when credibility gaps appear, and how this data blackout could influence Federal Reserve decisions, wage pressures, and Q4 hiring momentum.

Then Pete shifts to the “economic emergency” inside America’s skilled labor shortage. Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company still can’t fill 5,000 mechanic roles, even with pay reaching $120K+, and it’s just one snapshot of a nationwide crisis. With over one million open skilled trade jobs, stagnant training pipelines, and multi-year mastery fields like diesel, EV, and industrial maintenance lacking modern apprenticeship paths, wage hikes alone can’t fix the gap. Pete examines the steps required to rebuild the talent pipeline that the middle class relies on.

He also breaks down fresh Indeed Hiring Lab data to map where demand is rising, stalling, or reversing. Tech remains muted, while healthcare is cooling but remains strong. B2B services are mixed, retail continues to slide, and transportation shows wage stability despite softer postings. The headline? The job market isn’t collapsing, it’s resetting. The future depends on having better data and a more robust skills pipeline.

💬 What do you think: What would convince more young workers to pursue trade careers today? 

News Articles:
1. US Labor Market Quarterly Verticals for Q3 2025: https://www.hiringlab.org/2025/11/13/us-labor-market-quarterly-verticals-for-q3-2025/
2. White House Says the October Jobs Report May Never Be Released: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/12/white-house-october-jobs-data/
3. Ford CEO Says He Has 5,000 Open Mechanic Jobs With 6-Figure Salaries From the Shortage of Manually Skilled Workers: https://fortune.com/2025/11/12/ford-ceo-manufacturing-jobs-trade-schools-we-are-in-trouble-in-our-country/

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Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog