Human Times

North American Edition

4th May 2026

THE HOT STORY

Sunbelt cities lead graduate hiring

ADP’s analysis of 53 major U.S. metros found Sunbelt cities leading a still-uneven rebound in graduate hiring, with Birmingham ranked first and Tampa second. Six of the top 10 are in the South, including Raleigh, Tulsa, Nashville, and Charlotte, while San Jose and Columbus also scored strongly due to hiring strength, wages, or affordability. Researchers reviewed payroll data for more than 400,000 workers in their 20s and compared degree-level hiring rates with affordability-adjusted pay. “If you can get that right mix of hiring, pay and affordability, it’s a really attractive launch point for a young person,” said Nela Richardson, ADP’s chief economist. Birmingham benefited from bioscience, automotive, and advanced-materials hiring, while Tampa gained from healthcare, finance, and technology demand.

Wall Street Journal

WORKFORCE

California's job market defies layoffs

California added 28,700 payroll jobs in March, reducing its unemployment rate to 5.3%, despite significant layoffs in the tech sector. The growth was primarily driven by nearly 28,000 new positions in health services and private education, as reported by the state's Employment Development Department. While California's job market shows resilience, it still lags behind the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. The state has seen major tech firms, including Meta and Oracle, announce layoffs, but Bernick noted that these layoffs represent only a small fraction of California's economy. Despite a decline in total civilian employment, the state's economy is bolstered by investments in AI and growth in the defense sector.

Los Angeles Times

FEMA employees return after controversy

Fourteen employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) who signed a public letter criticizing the nation's disaster preparedness have been reinstated after eight months on paid leave. The reinstatement follows a shift in leadership under Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who has reversed previous policies that hindered FEMA's operations. The agency is now focusing on stabilizing its workforce and preparing for upcoming events, including the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

U.S. News

Senate bans prediction markets for lawmakers

The U.S. Senate unanimously has approved a ban on incumbent senators, staff, and other officials from participating in prediction markets, a form of gambling on real-world events. This initiative, led by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, aims to prevent lawmakers from engaging in speculative activities while receiving taxpayer-funded salaries. The decision follows ongoing debates about a broader ban on lawmakers' stock trades, which some view as insider trading.

U.S. News

Saks Global cuts corporate workforce

Saks Global has cut around 16% of its corporate staff, equating to approximately 640 roles, as part of an ongoing restructuring following its bankruptcy filing, with reductions driven by business exits, operational streamlining and integration of the 2024 Neiman Marcus acquisition. The retailer has significantly reduced its physical footprint, closing most Saks Off Fifth stores, halving Saks Fifth Avenue locations and shutting several Neiman Marcus sites, while reporting that sales and inventory are outperforming internal plans and that sufficient liquidity is in place to support its emergence from bankruptcy later this year.

Wall Street Journal

LEGAL

Court ruling could unlock Covid-era tax refunds

A federal court decision has opened the door for tens of millions of U.S. taxpayers to potentially reclaim penalties, interest payments and other charges imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, after ruling that many IRS filing deadlines were effectively suspended. The judgment found that a 2019 law granting automatic deadline extensions for disaster victims, combined with the nationwide emergency declared in January 2020, meant that tax deadlines should have been paused until July 10th 2023. This contradicts the IRS’s earlier interpretation, under which deadlines remained in force, leading to widespread penalties for late filings and payments. The scope of the issue is significant, affecting individuals, small businesses and large corporations alike, with more than 28m penalties issued in fiscal 2022 alone, totalling over $12bn. Some companies, including large corporates, have already begun pursuing claims based on the ruling. The IRS’s national taxpayer advocate has urged taxpayers to review their eligibility and submit claims, typically via Form 843, before the key deadline of July 10th 2026, which reflects the standard three-year window for refund claims.

Wall Street Journal

TECHNOLOGY

Colorado tech challenges AI rules

Colorado’s tech community is pushing back against state regulations, especially a landmark AI bill that critics say could raise compliance costs and slow innovation. Business leaders argue the state’s climate is beginning to resemble California’s, while Gov. Jared Polis said “far more” firms are moving to Colorado than leaving. The dispute has intensified as xAI sues over the law and lawmakers consider a slimmer version. Supporters say regulation can protect consumers and build confidence in AI tools. Broader complaints about labor, environmental, and tax policies have added pressure, as some executives warn Colorado risks losing momentum, jobs, and startup investment to competing states.

Wall Street Journal

HIRING

LAPD seeks $100m for Olympics

LAPD is requesting $100m for new vehicles and additional officers to ensure adequate staffing for the 2028 Summer Olympics. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell warned that public safety could suffer without hiring more officers, as the department anticipates losing hundreds in the next two years. The LAPD aims to recruit 520 new officers and purchase over 500 vehicles, but council members questioned the necessity of these expenses.

Los Angeles Times

WORKPLACE

Fidelity to bring Boston employees back to the office

Fidelity is set to bring its Boston workforce back to the office full-time starting September, as the company moves away from its hybrid work model. “Fidelity's belief is that being physically together creates more opportunities for a meaningful associate experience filled with connection, mentorship, and learning,” the company said. With approximately 6,200 employees in Boston and over 80,000 globally, all Boston-based associates, except those in customer support roles, will adhere to the new schedule. Fidelity will maintain its main office at 245 Summer Street while transitioning to its new Commonwealth Pier campus. The company is also looking to expand capacity across its locations to accommodate this shift.

Boston Globe

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Abel earns respect, smaller crowds

Greg Abel’s first Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting as CEO drew praise for his command of the conglomerate’s operations but lacked the draw of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger’s long-running presence. Attendance, merchandise sales, and event lines appeared lighter, with some shareholders missing Buffett and Munger’s investing lessons and life philosophy. Still, others said Berkshire’s culture was built to endure. “Greg did a good job,” said Alexandra Cook, accounting and finance professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, adding that Abel reassured shareholders through operational knowledge.

Reuters

Best Buy exec to exit ahead of husband’s CEO appointment

Best Buy has announced that senior vice president Marie Grable will leave the company on July 31st, ahead of her husband Jason Bonfig assuming the role of chief executive on November 1st. Ms Grable, an executive since 1997, resigned last week. The move comes as the retailer seeks to avoid potential conflicts of interest, particularly given past scrutiny over executive relationships, although the company noted the pair's relationship had been previously disclosed.

Bloomberg

Carter’s appoints new CEO

Carter’s has appointed Sharon Price John as its new chief executive, effective mid-June, marking a leadership change following the departure of Douglas Palladini after just over a year in the role. John joins from Build-A-Bear Workshop, where she spent 13 years as CEO and led a turnaround and expansion of the business. Carter’s, which makes clothing for babies and young children, reaffirmed its full-year outlook, expecting low- to mid-single-digit sales growth, but forecasting a decline in adjusted earnings per share in the low-double to mid-teens range. It also maintained its first-quarter guidance for mid-single-digit sales growth.

The Wall Street Journal

Musk’s Tesla pay package tops $158bn

Elon Musk’s compensation from Tesla reached $158.4bn for 2025 as part of a shareholder-approved long-term incentive plan that could be worth up to $1tn if ambitious operational and valuation targets are met. The package is tied to milestones including an $8.5tn market cap, 20m vehicle deliveries, and major advances in AI, robotaxis and robotics, with payouts dependent on performance and aimed at securing Musk’s continued focus on the company.

Wall Street Journal

INTERNATIONAL

JBS faces lawsuit over slavery claims

In Brazil, labor prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against meatpacking giant JBS, alleging the company purchased cattle from farms where "workers were held in slavery-like conditions." The civil action, presented in a labor court in Para, seeks nearly 119 million reais (approximately $24m) in compensation, which prosecutors argue reflects the severity of the situation. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding labor practices in the meatpacking industry, particularly in relation to human rights violations.

The Baltimore Sun

Tech worker replaced by AI

A tech worker in Hangzhou, China, won a legal battle after being dismissed for AI replacement. The Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court ruled that the termination was unlawful, saying: "The termination grounds cited by the company did not fall under negative circumstances such as business downsizing." The worker, identified as Zhou, was a quality assurance supervisor earning 300,000 yuan ($43,900) before his job was taken over by AI. After being reassigned to a lower position with a 40% pay cut, Zhou refused and was subsequently let go.

NPR / National Public Radio

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