Week in review: Outdated hiring practices are stifling HR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

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

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

Only 35% of US employees say they feel resilient

New research highlights a growing disconnect between worker well-being and their ability to bounce back.

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 6, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: A quarter of employees saw retaliation for reporting misconduct

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week of HR news — including how much a jury awarded a former HR benefits generalist who alleged retaliation by her employer.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 5, 2026

26M people will take a Super Bowl sick day on Monday, UKG projects

An unprecedented number of workers will be OOO on Monday. But more people are swapping shifts and planning ahead, and less employees are expected to ghost their job compared to last year.

By Caroline Colvin • Feb. 5, 2026

The spread of ‘peanut butter’ pay raises

Across-the-board raises may have sticking power as companies reassess their compensation strategies in the face of inflation, Payscale said.

By Ginger Christ • Feb. 5, 2026

Senior leaders say they are confident in company change — but workers aren’t

Only 22% of workers said they received the support needed to adapt to a restructure, according to a report from Bain & Co. 

By Lara Ewen • Feb. 5, 2026

Leaders want team input but fear the cost of asking, study finds

Psychological safety “may be breaking down at the leadership level first,” Turas Leadership Consulting said.

By Laurel Kalser • Feb. 5, 2026

Workers worry about AI job loss amid enterprise adoption

More than one-quarter of employees say they have little or no trust in employers’ ability to handle AI and automation fairly, according to Dexian.

By Roberto Torres • Feb. 5, 2026