Overview
- A Wall Street Journal poll of CEOs found 66% plan to reduce or hold headcount in 2026, with only about one-third expecting to hire.
- Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said job growth is near zero and described executives waiting to see how AI reshapes roles before adding staff.
- Indeed’s outlook points to minimal hiring next year and the unemployment rate hit 4.6% in November, while JPMorgan forecasts a weak first half with improvement later in 2026.
- IBM reports the lowest attrition in 30 years, and leaders at Shopify, Chime and Wells Fargo signal flat or smaller workforces going into the new year.
- S&P data reviewed by The Washington Post show 717 corporate bankruptcies through November, the highest pace since 2010.