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Human Times
North America
Remote work fears may be leading employers to cut back on junior hiring

The Wall Street Journal reports that some employers are cutting back on junior hiring because widespread remote work is making young talent a less attractive value proposition. Researchers from the London School of Economics, who recently observed that the amount of hiring devoted to entry-level roles across some countries has fallen more than 14% since 2019, said the return-on-investment after the hiring of an entry-level worker is dependent on the rate at which that young employee learns. Since remote work slows that process, employers prefer to invest instead in older workers, the researchers argue. “The implication is stark . . . A persistent contraction of this kind hollows out the pipeline of future experienced workers, causing declines in aggregate productivity as well as imposing cohort-specific scarring,” they wrote. 

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Human Times
UK
London will require private investors to deal with heat

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said the city's efforts to deal with rising temperatures will require the help of private investors due to the considerable financial cost. “This is an environmental crisis, but also it’s an economic crisis, a public health crisis, and a social justice crisis,” Khan said. “The costs of inaction outweigh the cost of action, but also we recognize we can’t do this by ourselves from City Hall.” The Mayor's office has set out an inaugural plan to deal with extreme heat in the age of climate change, including a concession to air conditioning, of which it was previously sceptical due to the energy required to run units. Meanwhile, Khan has said there should be a maximum and minimum limit for how hot workplaces and classrooms get before they close. “Sometimes in winter months schools and workplaces shouldn’t be too cold just as in summer they shouldn’t be too hot . . . I think it’s really important for each individual employer and headteacher to make a common-sense decision based on what’s right for them.”

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Human Times
Europe
Volkswagen aims to cut up to 100,000 jobs in next years

Manager Magazin has reported that Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume aims to cut up ​to 100,000 jobs worldwide and discontinue production at four of the group's German plants, as he seeks to reduce investment ​by around 15% to just over €130bn ($148bn) over the next ​five years. "The entire group, including its brands and subsidiaries, must undergo far-reaching change," a Volkswagen spokesperson said.

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Human Times
Middle East
AI resistance is the biggest concern for UAE employers

According to the 2026 People Risks report by Marsh, mindset barriers to AI adoption have become the primary concern for UAE employers, surpassing cybersecurity and health costs. The survey, which included 103 HR and risk professionals in the UAE, highlighted inadequate cyber threat literacy and labour shortages as additional risks. Only 40% of firms reported full collaboration between HR and risk teams. Adel Alderi, business development leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits, observed: “People risks in the UAE can no longer be treated as secondary workforce issues. They are now directly linked to business continuity, employee wellbeing, digital transformation and organisational resilience . . . AI adoption is an important part of the findings, but the wider issue for employers is workforce resilience.” He added that employers are simultaneously contending with rising health costs, mental wellbeing pressures and financial insecurity among staff.

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