AGP Executive Report

AI and Hiring: Cover letters are losing their value as a hiring signal: AI makes polished applications easy to produce, while a surge in applicants leaves recruiters less time to read them. Youth Employment: South Korea’s central bank says young people are increasingly pushed into temporary work as AI and employers’ preference for experienced hires shrink entry-level pathways. Apprenticeships: UK employers warn that raising training costs for workers over 25 could shift opportunities rather than create more jobs for young people. Older Workers: Singapore plans to raise retirement and re-employment ages early, alongside more support for employers, aiming to give older staff greater choice and make workplaces more age-friendly. Skills Pathways: A proposed Peterborough hub would offer 16-to-24-year-olds employability classes, career guidance and vocational training linked to jobs and apprenticeships.

Youth Employment: Kenya plans 50,000 paid internships from January 2027, with monthly stipends of KSh20,000–25,000 to help graduates move into work; the government says it aims to expand the program to 200,000 places. Skills and Support: Armenia approved a unified employment program offering vocational-training vouchers worth up to 250,000 drams, employer assistance and payments to participants. AI and Jobs: Goldman Sachs estimates AI could displace about 9% of U.S. workers over a decade, while noting the transition may unfold gradually. South African advocates argue policy can steer AI toward supporting workers rather than replacing them. Workplace Learning: Training pays off when managers help employees apply new skills on the job, not just collect certificates. Youth Support: A UK columnist argues that cutting welfare to fund employment programs risks deepening hardship, and calls for direct investment in support for young people.

Career Access: A University of York graduate has launched Seasonly to make flexible seasonal jobs easier to find, after spending three months searching for one himself. In Bridport, local businesses are being asked to help shape work opportunities and skills development for young people. Training & Progression: Qatar’s new government promotion framework links advancement to skills, competencies and performance, with employees and managers choosing development plans. Bournemouth accountancy firm TC Group has also welcomed four school-leaver and graduate trainees for hands-on training. Workforce Pressures: Scottish community transport groups warn that licence rules and training costs of up to £2,000 are worsening minibus-driver shortages; they want a lower-cost training route. Pay & Job Security: India’s 2027 salary outlook points to stronger raises in finance, energy and infrastructure, with AI skills potentially boosting pay. Meanwhile, more than 800 recently retrenched workers in Trinidad are struggling with job searches and the emotional toll of losing work.

Workplace Benefits: A New Zealand management professor says pet-bereavement leave can help staff feel supported and build trust; at least one company offers two extra paid days. Skills and Hiring: Malaysia’s national governance academy urged graduates to build skills for high-demand roles. Google is investing $250,000 in skilled-trades and cybersecurity training in Minnesota, while MTN Ghana and KNUST are pairing computer science students with industry training, internships and potential jobs. Youth Employment: Asda is piloting paid apprenticeships that combine permanent work with a recognised qualification, with 250 more recruits planned for 2027. AI and Job Cuts: Barclays plans to eliminate about 5,000 roles by year-end, with most cuts in support functions. Its CEO says AI is part of a broader efficiency drive, not the sole cause. Job Security: Namibia’s industries minister says repeated short-term contracts in long-running mining operations warrant scrutiny when work is continuous.

Workforce Training: Indiana reports more than 3,200 incarcerated people enrolled in vocational programs in 2025, earning 2,070 certifications in fields including construction, logistics and coding to prepare for work after release. Youth Employment: UK vacancies have fallen to 691,000, their lowest level since 2014, while 891,000 young people are not in education, employment or training; FE leaders are urging the Budget to help employers create entry-level opportunities. Breaking the Experience Barrier: With South Africa’s youth unemployment at 47.4%, a training-sector leader says learnerships can give young people practical skills and references that employers expect. Career Pathways: A mental health trust won regional recognition for T Level placements that give under-18s hands-on experience and a route into health careers. Women at Work: A study in Uzbekistan finds extra unpaid housework is linked to a sharply lower likelihood of employment, highlighting how domestic responsibilities can restrict women’s economic participation. Employment Law: The U.S. Supreme Court may take up a case on disparate-impact liability, with potential consequences for employers’ hiring and workplace practices.

Youth Employment: Malaysia’s 2027 budget sets aside RM8 billion for vocational training, offers free online courses and AI subscriptions, and targets 30,000 quality jobs by 2027. Worker Transitions: Cambodia’s 8 Star Sportswear will close in January, putting nearly 700 workers out of work; employees aged 50 and over worry about finding new jobs. Hiring: Vermont manufacturer Mack Molding will interview applicants on site Oct. 29, with hourly hires eligible for a $1,500 sign-on bonus. AI and Jobs: China’s new guidelines aim to encourage AI-driven hiring while preparing workers for displacement; meanwhile, Barclays is among companies planning job cuts tied to AI and efficiency drives. Reskilling: New Hampshire secured nearly $6.6 million in federal funding to retrain laid-off workers for jobs in manufacturing, aerospace, clean energy and skilled trades. HR Data Security: PwC is investigating a cybersecurity incident at a vendor that hosts employee learning records; the firm says client data and its operations were not affected.

Hiring Now: Vermont manufacturer Mack Molding will hold walk-in interviews Oct. 29 for manufacturing roles, with on-site offers and a $1,500 sign-on bonus for eligible hourly hires. Skills Shift: Job ads seeking AI skills have tripled, while people skills are also back in demand — a sign employers value both technical fluency and human strengths. Early-Career Paths: Korn Ferry reports 81% of employers plan to increase early-career hiring as AI reshapes entry-level work. T Levels and apprenticeships are also gaining attention, with industry placements giving students hands-on experience. Staffing Pressure: Australian hospitality leaders warn that leaving restaurant managers off the skilled-occupation list could worsen recruitment challenges. Access to Work: A proposed Philippine bill would reduce pre-employment document costs for low-income job seekers.

AI Career Paths: New York is investing $10 million in a Queens hub that aims to train 40,000 people for AI-related jobs by 2032. AI at Work: A Michigan survey found 78% of employers use AI in HR or plan to within a year, but many still need clear policies, staff training and human oversight. Barclays, meanwhile, plans 5,000 job cuts by year-end as it uses AI to reduce costs. Worker Experience: Toast’s restaurant employee survey found pay satisfaction rose 12 points to 67%, while benefits satisfaction climbed 16 points to 62%; poor hourly pay remains a leading complaint. Skills Pipeline: Telefónica will provide VR training content to more than 2,800 Spanish vocational centers, covering workplace safety, employability and other skills.

AI Hiring: A UK survey found 75% of recent job applicants didn’t know they could challenge an automated rejection, renewing calls for employers to make hiring systems more transparent. Pay and Retention: A compensation survey found one in four employers say pay is only moderately aligned with the skills they need, while 13% say it falls below expectations. Youth Pathways: Asda is piloting permanent jobs, qualifications and mentoring for young people out of work or education, with plans to expand the scheme in 2027. New teaching and early-years bootcamps in Worcestershire will also offer successful trainees guaranteed interviews. Career Access: A Sarawak career event will offer 650 technical jobs in December. In Vermont, Mack Molding is holding on-site interviews for manufacturing roles and offering eligible hires a $1,500 sign-on bonus. Safe Work Abroad: IOM and Ghana’s government called for ethical recruitment, skills development and better coordination to protect people seeking work overseas.

Workforce Training: Massachusetts is expanding Pathmaker programs in advanced manufacturing, AI, defense, climatetech and life sciences, aiming to connect residents with skills training and employers’ talent pipelines. Career Paths: A survey found 44% of Malaysian workers don’t want a traditional climb up the corporate ladder; employers are being urged to create expert career tracks that don’t require management roles. Hiring and Retention: Malaysia’s employers federation says companies should give local workers first chance at jobs and invest in competitive pay, better conditions, career growth and skills before seeking foreign hires. Job Market: Nine U.S. states and Washington, D.C., lost jobs over the year through September, while South Carolina led job growth. Graduate Prospects: A Princeton PhD whose research was cited by the Nobel committee says he has made more than 2,300 applications without landing a job, underscoring how tough the search can be even for highly qualified candidates.

Layoffs: Qualcomm will begin notifying workers of global, performance-focused job cuts in November; the company hasn’t said how many roles are affected. Pay Equity: Irish employers with more than 50 staff will have to publish gender pay-gap figures by the end of November, making comparisons easier for workers. Hiring: Nearly half of UK and Irish jobseekers surveyed said they received no response after an interview. AI-driven application surges are adding to the pressure on recruiters, while some candidates admit using fake skills or hidden text to beat screening tools. Career Pathways: QinetiQ will offer 30 summer placements and work experience for 300 students as part of a UK programme to build tech skills. A medical scribe programme at the University of Virginia has also expanded into hands-on clinical work for graduates. Jobs Market: UK vacancies fell by 21,000 to 691,000, prompting the TUC to urge the government to expand paid-work opportunities for young people. Work Trends: About 9 million Americans now hold multiple jobs, often to boost income, gain skills or protect against layoffs.

Layoffs and Hiring: NAB plans to cut 2,500 jobs, while Qualcomm says it will make thousands of global cuts from November. UK vacancies have also fallen to a five-year low, pointing to a tougher search for work. Skills Pipeline: Montana employers are turning to college courses and paid apprenticeships to fill skilled-trades gaps. Airbus is introducing school students to engineering through a hands-on program with apprentice mentors. Work and Care: One in three workers in Greece say work and family life are hard to balance. Employers’ childcare support can help parents take jobs and stay in them. Youth Employment: A UK estimate puts one in eight 18-to-24-year-olds outside work, education or training; Airbus’s early-career scheme offers one way to help young people explore new paths. HR and AI: HR leaders say AI is forcing a rethink of jobs and skills, as employers weigh how to prepare workers for changing roles.

Skills Pathways: Malaysia’s polytechnics drew more than 32,000 applicants for about 24,000 places, signaling rising demand for technical training. Qatar has launched a continuous-learning policy to help workers keep pace with changing job needs. Career Readiness: A BBC survey found many UK teens want more work experience and help applying for jobs; more than half said they had not had a placement. Workforce Outlook: AI is squeezing entry-level opportunities and changing hiring, while Australia’s NAB plans 2,500 job cuts. Adult Training: Hampshire secured more funding for free skills bootcamps, which have already trained nearly 4,000 people and aim to help fill local vacancies.

AI and Early Careers: A study warns that AI is squeezing entry-level opportunities: 39% of surveyed business leaders said their organizations had cut or eliminated junior roles, and 43% expected reductions. The report also found automation featured far more prominently than worker training. Youth Employment: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the scale of young people out of education, work or training a “moral failure”; about one in eight 18-to-24-year-olds is affected. Nursing Jobs: Wales has added 253 graduate nursing posts after three in 10 new graduates struggled to find NHS work, but the uncertainty has contributed to a 26% drop in course acceptances since 2022. Public-Sector Cuts: New Orleans’ proposed 2027 budget would eliminate 55 of 73 sanitation department positions, reducing services and laying off 37 employees. Career Moves: A survey found 39% of U.S. adults have retirement savings spread across multiple former employers, and 45% say managing those accounts gets harder with each job change. Canadian Immigration: From Nov. 3, qualifying high-wage job offers can earn points under Canada’s Express Entry system without an LMIA, potentially changing candidates’ prospects.

Youth Employment: World Bank President Ajay Banga warns that 1.2 billion young people will enter the workforce over the next 10 to 15 years, but only about 400 million jobs are expected to be created. Skills Pipeline: A new North East engineering centre aims to train more than 40 apprentices in its first year, as 59% of the region’s advanced manufacturing vacancies are hard to fill. AI and Career Growth: Anthropic’s share of junior tech hires has fallen from 27% to 9% amid rising AI adoption. In India, 71% of surveyed tech workers want hands-on AI training, but only 29% say their employers provide it; 87% say clear career paths matter when choosing an employer. Career Preparation: Bennington College’s required work terms give students practical experience that can help them discover career options and build skills before graduation.

Hiring Surge: Haas Automation is recruiting more than 1,000 workers for its new Henderson factory, from machinists and engineers to assemblers and support staff; starting pay is about $23 an hour. Management Careers: A new analysis says rising demands and limited support are making management promotions less appealing, putting employers’ talent pipelines at risk. Canadian Immigration: From Nov. 3, Express Entry candidates with qualifying high-wage Canadian work experience or job offers can earn extra points toward permanent residence. AI and Entry-Level Work: Anthropic reports junior technical hires fell from 27% to 9% as AI tools automate tasks and some managers say they are hiring less. Inclusive Workplaces: A Salisbury business and charity are offering employers practical guidance on supporting neurodivergent staff through workplace adjustments and better understanding.