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September Work News Update: Where the Hell Is This Car Headed?

September was…weird.

AI is getting more powerful - and also getting fired from taking burger orders. Young workers are struggling to get a foothold. Companies are flattening, simplifying, cutting layers, and asking fewer people to do more. And while AI may be great for the economy, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be great for workers.

So this month, we’re zooming out.

We break down three possible futures for work — abundance, superstar workers, and concentrated ownership — and look at which one the current signals suggest we’re actually heading toward.

Plus:

• Why Americans are feeling worse about the future — especially younger workers
• Whether an economy can win from AI while workers lose
• The rise of the “superstar worker”
• Why companies are ditching traditional job titles
• What flatter organizations could mean for career growth, expertise, and pay
• Why “simplification” may become one of the biggest corporate trends of 2027
• And one genuinely good piece of news about the tech job market

Because where we end up may have a lot less to do with how smart AI gets — and a lot more to do with who has the keys to the car.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

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The skilled trades shortage is being called a $1 trillion workforce problem. But what if it’s a problem we helped create?

For decades, we closed factories, moved jobs, laid people off, and told a generation that the path to a good career ran through college, not the trades. Now employers are scrambling for welders, technicians, electricians, manufacturing talent, and other skilled workers.

We sat down with Toshiba CHRO Jason Desentz to talk about how we got here and, more importantly, what it will take to rebuild.

In this episode, we get into:

• How decades of layoffs, offshoring, and steering people toward college helped create today’s skilled trades shortage
• Why outdated perceptions of manufacturing and trade careers haven’t caught up with the jobs themselves
• How employers can rebuild talent pipelines through high school partnerships, apprenticeships, and internal training
• Why career mobility and development matter just as much as getting people in the door
• The role trust, culture, and community play in keeping skilled workers
• How AI and automation could enhance skilled work rather than simply replace it

Because we’re not going to solve the skilled trades shortage by waiting for more workers to show up. We have to rebuild the pathways that lead people there.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

Send us Fan Mail

AI layoffs that may not actually be about AI. Entry-level jobs disappearing before anyone gets laid off. White-collar workers taking new jobs for less money. Women leaving the workforce in alarming numbers. And healthcare costs heading toward another massive increase.

Yeah. August was a lot.

In this month's Work News Recap, we break down five stories shaping work right now — what the data actually says, what we think is happening underneath the headlines, and what employees and leaders should be watching next.

Including:

• Why some companies that cut jobs because of AI may end up hiring those roles back
• The growing problem at the bottom of the career ladder — and what it could mean for the next generation of leaders
• The troubling numbers for women in the workforce
• The early evidence that white-collar work may be getting repriced
• Why your 2027 healthcare benefits could get more expensive — and less generous

No trend reports. No corporate speak. Just the work news worth paying attention to — and what the hell it actually means.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com