📉 31% won’t apply for fully in-office roles. Hybrid still rules.

Hey HR Pros!

In 2026, career movement has slowed dramatically as employees prioritize financial security, stability, and well-being over bold job switches.

Instead of betting on the job market, many are adapting through upskilling, side hustles, and more selective searches - reshaping what career ambition looks like in today’s climate.

Upcoming In This Issue:

• 📈 93% of recruiters plan to increase AI use in 2026

• 🕒 Can a paid 'Friendship Hour' fix disconnection at work?

• 📉 31% won’t apply for fully in-office roles. Hybrid still rules.

• 🧑‍💼 Insights by HR Leaders | CPO of Salesforce talks AI fluent workforce

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📈 93% of recruiters plan to increase AI use in 2026

In 2026, more than half of the global workforce is actively looking for a new role yet many say job hunting feels tougher than ever. And while competition is fierce across the board, recruiters are feeling the crunch too: open roles are fewer, timelines are shorter, and expectations are soaring.

Here’s what LinkedIn's latest research reveals about how AI is changing the talent equation in 2026.

Key Insights for HR Pros

• 📈 93% of recruiters plan to increase AI use in 2026
  AI isn't just a trend—it's the new recruiter’s edge, helping surface hard-to-find, high-fit candidates at speed.

• 🤖 81% of job seekers use or plan to use AI
  AI tools are boosting job seekers’ confidence, with 48% saying these tools help them feel more prepared for interviews.

• 📊 U.S. applicants per role have doubled since 2022
  The surge in competition is real—making it harder for candidates to stand out and for recruiters to find standout talent.

• ⚙️ Early adopters of LinkedIn Hiring Assistant save 4+ hours per role
  Companies using LinkedIn's AI agent see a 69% boost in InMail acceptance and review far fewer profiles to find top talent.

read the full 582-word article here

🕒 Can a paid 'Friendship Hour' fix disconnection at work?

In Sweden, one company is taking a refreshingly simple approach: giving employees paid time to connect.

The trial, led by Apotek Hjartat, offers workers either 15 minutes weekly or an hour monthly to intentionally engage with friends, coworkers, or loved ones—no strings attached.

The initiative is part of a broader recognition that social well-being is deeply intertwined with employee engagement and organizational culture.

Key Insights for HR Leaders

• 💡 Only 11 people are in the pilot, but the design is scalable
  Minimal logistics, no complex tools—just time, trust, and $100 to use however they choose during “friendcare” sessions.

• 📉 40% of U.S. workers report feeling isolated in 2025
  Loneliness is a global issue. Programs like this show how even small efforts can combat disconnection and improve mental health.

• 📞 Employees can use the hour however they want—calls, plans, or downtime
  No structured agenda means more authentic use; one participant said she simply feels “happier” and more energized afterward.

• ☕ Inspired by Sweden’s “fika” culture of connection over coffee
  This new initiative builds on a cultural norm of social slowing down—an approach other HR leaders can adapt in their context.

read the full 670-word article here

📉 31% won’t apply for fully in-office roles. Hybrid still rules.

Many workers are staying put, not because they’ve lost ambition, but because protecting income, maintaining flexibility, and managing burnout have become non-negotiable.

They’re upskilling, starting side hustles, and steering toward resilience rather than bold leaps.

The latest workforce data highlights an important HR takeaway: employees aren't disengaging—they're adapting.

Key Insights for HR Leaders

• 📉 Only 43% plan to job search in 2026, down from 93% in 2025
  Workers are pulling back from the job market, prioritizing financial safety over career experimentation in a volatile economy.

• 🧠 Upskilling is now a must, not a bonus—64% plan to upskill in 2026
  Career resilience is becoming synonymous with lifelong learning, especially as AI begins reshaping roles and expectations.

• 💼 31% won’t apply for fully in-office roles—hybrid still rules
  Strict on-site mandates are limiting talent pipelines and emerging as the top job search deal-breaker in 2026.

• 💸 58% say their salary hasn’t kept up with inflation
  Wage stagnation and rising costs are driving financial stress, with many turning to second jobs or delaying major life plans.

read the full 1,607-word article here

🧑‍💼 Insights by HR Leaders | CPO of Salesforce talks AI fluent workforce

At Salesforce, 85% of employees report feeling confident using AI, a 16-point leap in just one year.

This shift was designed, measured, and scaled through a framework that treats AI fluency not as a tech upgrade, but as a workforce capability rooted in learning, clarity, and human judgment.

Salesforce’s AI Fluency Playbook breaks this down into specific, trackable dimensions.

Key Insights for HR Leaders

• 📊 3-part fluency framework: engagement, activation, and expertise
  Salesforce tracks AI fluency by measuring sentiment, daily usage habits, and ability to blend human and agentic skills across workflows.

• 🧠 Critical thinking is now non-negotiable in an AI-driven workplace
  Human judgment becomes more important—not less—as tasks are delegated to AI; clarity on human accountability is essential.

• 👥 Manager behavior directly drives AI adoption and engagement
  Employees with AI-modeling managers are 22 percentage points more engaged than those without visible leadership on AI usage.

• 📈 50% of Salesforce’s new hires were internal mobility moves
  AI fluency is fueling not just productivity but new career paths—reshaping talent development and workforce agility from the inside out.

read the full 1,171-word article here