Cost-per-hire and cost-per-application rose sharply in 2025, report says

The Appcast benchmark report attributed rising cost-per-application and cost-per-hire rates to “shifts in job board pricing and programmatic media models.”

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 20, 2026

Is ‘workslop’ becoming more accepted in the workplace?

Correcting AI-generated errors is “a new and often invisible burden at work,” according to a report from Zety.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 20, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top trends in employee engagement

Employee engagement can be a bit of a puzzle. In recent years, employers have realized it’s more about meaningful work, work-life balance and well-being — and less about free snacks.

By HR Dive staff

This week in 5 numbers: Most workers like learning from other generations

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how much Black women’s employment dropped last year.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 19, 2026

Skills are evolving too quickly for current training cycles, report says

Among IT workers, core responsibilities shift every 18 months, but learning was still seen as a benefit rather than an operational necessity, according to Info-Tech.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 19, 2026

Gen X may be pivotal in bridging generations at work

The Mather Institute report found that the generations are more alike than stereotypes may suggest, particularly around technology adoption.

By Laurel Kalser • Feb. 19, 2026

Most CFOs say they expect larger IT budgets but ‘collapsing’ staff growth

This shift marks a pivot toward automation and “labor optimization” to drive productivity rather than headcount increases, one senior analyst said.

By Alexei Alexis • Feb. 18, 2026

Amid the DEI crisis, here’s how HR can build a talent strategy that weathers the storm

Crisis management professional Bradley Akubuiro offers advice to HR professionals tasked with creating an inclusive workplace while navigating a volatile DEI landscape.

By Bradley Akubuiro • Feb. 18, 2026

Week in review: Outdated hiring practices are stifling HR

We're rounding up last week’s stories, from skills gaps getting more pronounced to dropping demand for HR professionals.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 17, 2026

Black women employment sees one of its sharpest annual declines in past 25 years

The months ahead might provide clearer answers as to whether the losses were “casualties of anti-equity backlash in action,” EPI researchers said.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 17, 2026

Human-led training may be more effective than digital learning

A lack of personalization in digital sessions can lead to a loss of motivation, but a blend of asynchronous and in-person training could prove effective, according to a new report.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 13, 2026

Employees need a real say in how things work to flourish, study finds

To prevent workers from languishing, organizations must “create empowered squads that make autonomy and support the norm,” the lead researcher said.

By Laurel Kalser • Feb. 13, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Nearly one-third of workers want to break up with their jobs

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how much the demand for human resources workers has fallen.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 12, 2026

EEOC warns agencies against ‘blanket approach’ to telework denial

The commission said the president’s return-to-work memorandum should be approached with care.

By Caroline Colvin • Feb. 12, 2026

60% of Generation Zers say they will pursue skilled trade work this year

Fear of AI might be driving the shift. A different survey last year found fewer than 40% of Gen Zers had an interest in the trades.

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 12, 2026

Skills gaps may be more pronounced now than a year ago

While more than half of hiring managers surveyed said they planned to take on workers in 2026, artificial intelligence adoption has created hiring challenges.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 12, 2026

Fewer workers say they feel a positive impact from DEI initiatives than prior years

Executives are considerably more optimistic about the effectiveness of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts than employees, according to research from The Conference Board.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 12, 2026

Balance of economy remains ‘precarious,’ experts warn

January’s jobs report was unexpectedly strong amid a collection of downward revisions for 2025 as a whole.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 11, 2026

SHRM: Demand for HR workers is down amid AI adoption

Job postings for HR positions tend to mention artificial intelligence and machine learning skills more often than the wider U.S. labor market does.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 11, 2026

Target cuts 500 roles, invests in store payroll

The mass retailer, which cut about 1,000 corporate positions last year, is now putting “significantly” more investment into store labor and hours.

By Dani James • Feb. 10, 2026

Nearly 7 in 10 workers say their skills aren’t being fully used

The potential turnover risk from failing to fully realize workers’ capabilities leaves little room for error, Resume Now found.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 10, 2026

What leads an employer to ‘build’ — rather than ‘buy’ — talent?

A firm’s decision on how to secure talent “directly shapes its future competitiveness,” a researcher from the University of South Florida said.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 10, 2026

The rise of work ‘situationships’

An overwhelming majority of workers say they’ve remained in a job they didn’t love, according to a new Glassdoor poll.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 10, 2026

‘Breaking point’ for economy could be close, recent reports say

Reports on January job cuts and December openings paint a dour picture.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 9, 2026

HR leaders say they are facing self-inflicted skills and talent crises

Outdated practices and a lack of agility are holding HR back from managing the current talent market, according to an Isolved report.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 9, 2026

Emotional intelligence may be a key skill for overall company performance

EI can shape how a person responds to feedback as well as how they manage pressure and resolve conflict, according to a white paper from University of Phoenix.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 6, 2026