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Expert Advice + Resources
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January Workforce Optics: The 2026 Outlook Takes Shape
January’s Workforce Optics, our short-form, insight-rich newsletter, opens the year with a forward-looking look at the labor market and what employers should expect as 2026 begins. In this issue, we’re thrilled to welcome back economists Svenja Gudell of Indeed and Daniel Zhao of Glassdoor, who reflect on the lessons of 2025 and share early insight into a year defined by slower growth and uneven conditions. It also includes the latest labor market data, workforce trends, and industry specific updates to help employers plan with confidence. Dig in!
Inside This Month's Issue:
- A Labor Market That Is Cooling, Not Contracting. The latest employment data shows slower hiring, steady wage growth, and continued resilience as competition for talent becomes more uneven across industries.
- What 2026 May Bring. Economists from Indeed and Glassdoor explain why mixed signals may be the new normal and why industry specific insight matters more than headline numbers.
- Workforce Trends to Watch. AI driven productivity gains, widening talent gaps, and changing workplace flexibility are already reshaping how work gets done in 2026.
Manufacturing Enters 2026 Cautiously. Manufacturing closes 2025 in contraction, balancing steady production in pockets with soft demand, elevated costs, and cautious hiring decisions.
Explore all the data, expert commentary, and workforce insights here.
