This week in 5 numbers: Employees struggle to find time for upskilling

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how many consecutive business days Bank of America employees are allowed to work remotely.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 20, 2026

Gap between demand and hiring widens

More candidates are applying for jobs in manufacturing especially, but companies aren’t successfully moving them into available roles, according to an ICIMS report.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 20, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top trends in talent acquisition

AI is rapidly reshaping talent acquisition, workplace experts say.

By HR Dive staff

Only 1 in 5 organizations are prepared to move toward autonomous AI agents, Deloitte finds

Poorly documented or misunderstood processes, fragmented data systems, and entrenched ways of working are impeding the transition, according to the report.

By Laurel Kalser • Aug. 20, 2026

More than three-quarters of front-line managers say they lack necessary guidance

A disconnect between company systems and operational needs has led to problems translating decisions into action, according to a report from Dayforce.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 19, 2026

Only daily AI users feel positively about job security

Unclear AI policies and a lack of training are compounding employee concerns about the technology, a SurveyMonkey and CNBC survey found.

By Paige Gross • Aug. 19, 2026

CHROs split on whether managers can lead through AI-driven change, Gallup finds

In addition to managerial training, HR leaders said their organizations are investing in “centers of excellence” and “internal AI champions.”

By Ryan Golden • Aug. 19, 2026

HR pros’ summer reading list 2026

These recommendations include books from our own summer reading lists as well as ones from HR Dive’s readers.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 18, 2026

Workers report ‘FOBO’ — a fear of becoming obsolete

Most workers told ETS and The Harris Poll that upskilling “is no longer a choice” but also that it was hard to get employer support on the matter.

By Kathryn Moody • Aug. 18, 2026

Rethinking RTO? Researchers highlight the positive impact of remote work

In a year where retention is top of mind for employers, conversations highlighting the benefits of remote work may be crucial.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 18, 2026

Jobs exist but are harder to fill, hiring managers say

Survey respondents said it can take four weeks to hire for available roles and that they permanently close some positions before finding the right candidate.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 18, 2026

Bank of America won’t let employees work remotely 2 days in a row

The ban on taking two consecutive remote days includes Friday to Monday and takes effect in mid-September, according to a policy update workers received earlier this month.

By Gabrielle Saulsbery • Aug. 17, 2026

Week in review: When saying ‘please’ can lead to late turn-ins

We’re rounding up the top stories from last week, including a Zillow sales executive who alleged age discrimination due in part to insults such as “You’re too old to know this.”

By Kathryn Moody • Aug. 17, 2026

DHS to propose end of 60-day grace period for H-1B visa holders

Few details are known without the rule’s text, which has yet to be published in the Federal Register, but the change may pose difficulties for employers.

By Kathryn Moody • Aug. 14, 2026

Labor market exhibits ‘continued resilience,’ The Conference Board finds

Multiple factors have made an already complex job market even more volatile this year, per a report.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 14, 2026

This week in 5 numbers: Employees say bosses don’t work as hard

Here’s a roundup of numbers from the last week — including how much Apple will pay to settle U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions allegations.

By Ginger Christ • Aug. 13, 2026

Empathetic leaders drive whether AI is seen as an opportunity or a risk, survey finds

Empathy lifted every AI metric measured, including employee optimism and sense of control over their work, according to a Businessolver report.

By Laurel Kalser • Aug. 13, 2026

Mile Hi Foods settles for $1.5M over alleged refusal to hire women, Black and Afghan workers

When the HR manager opposed the practices, Mile Hi unlawfully retaliated, harassing and ultimately discharging her, according to the complaint.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 13, 2026

‘You’re too old to know this’: Zillow faces bias claim from White man

The complaint, which details age-based mockery, from songs in meetings to bald jokes, differs from other lawsuits in the “reverse discrimination” wave.

By Caroline Colvin • Updated Aug. 13, 2026

Most 4-year graduates work in same state as their alma mater, report finds

States looking to grow their college-educated workforce should focus on “homegrown talent” over wooing outside workers, according to the analysis.

By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 12, 2026

More than half of employees say leaders live ‘in a different world’

Workers surveyed by Howdy said company leadership was held to a lower standard and doesn’t follow its own policies on basic professionalism.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 12, 2026

‘Substantial gaps’ in skills are hurting manager readiness, report says

“The role of the manager has fundamentally changed,” Mark Saddic, senior partner at Careerminds, said in a statement.

By Kathryn Moody • Aug. 11, 2026

Saying ‘please’ or ‘ASAP’ may actually slow work down

Additionally, deliverables without due dates were 2.5 times as likely to never be completed at all, a report said. 

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 11, 2026

‘Historic’ labor market shrinkage highlights need for AI, economist says

A pullback from employment by workers age 65 and older may partly allay concerns that demand for artificial intelligence will fall short of a coming surge in supply.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 11, 2026

Most workers said they’ve stayed home due to unsafe conditions

Almost 40% of workers said they are left to deal with problems like severe weather events and infrastructure failures on their own.

By Lara Ewen • Aug. 11, 2026

While layoffs slow overall, job losses in tech soar

Artificial intelligence may be to blame for year-over-year increases in technology sector job losses, according to a report from Challenger, Gray and Christmas.

By Caroline Colvin • Aug. 10, 2026