Bank Economists: Slower Growth, Persistent Inflation
Photo by Dave Garcia
The American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee expects continued slow U.S. economic growth for the remainder of 2025 and a modest pickup in 2026. The group’s latest forecast released Sept. 24 indicates inflation will remain stubbornly high and above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent inflation target.
The committee, composed of 16 chief economists from some of North America’s largest banks, expects Q4/Q4 real economic growth at 1.3 percent in 2025 with an increase in 2026 to 1.8 percent, supported primarily by stronger consumer spending and investment. At the same time, softening in the job market has raised the risk of recession from one-in-four at the previous meeting in March to one-in-three between now and the end of 2026. The committee expects the unemployment rate to increase and peak at 4.6 percent in the first half of 2026 and then drift down slightly through the end of next year.
The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation’s $25 trillion banking industry.
Worker Lay-Offs This Holiday Season
Based on a survey of 1,008 business leaders, Resume.org found:
- 31 percent of companies will conduct layoffs between mid-November and December 31;
- The majority admit layoffs could have waited until after the holidays;
- 69 percent are using AI to identify which roles to cut;
- 42 percent won’t give severance to employees;
- 82 percent say executives will still receive bonuses this year.
Eliminating Remote Work by 2026
Resume Builder surveyed nearly 1,000 U.S. business leaders and found:
- Nearly half of companies will require employees to be in the office at least four days a week in 2026;
- One in 8 companies are increasing the number of required days in the office in 2026;
- Companies that plan to increase office days are doing so to improve productivity and company culture;
- 3 in 10 companies won’t allow for remote work
- Most companies don’t provide incentives for employees to work from the office
Companies Replacing Workers With AI in 2026
Photo by Kindel Media
AIResumeBuilder.com’s latest survey found:
- 1 in 5 companies replaced jobs with AI in 2025
- 3 in 10 companies plan to replace employees with AI in 2026
- Administrative and customer service roles are most at risk of automation
- Workers with AI skills are less likely to be laid off
- Employees are expected to leverage AI to significantly increase output
Hiring Overqualified candidates: They bring value, but may leave soon
Seventy percent of U.S. hiring managers surveyed in a new survey from Express Employment Professionals and The Harris Poll say their company typically considers overqualified candidates. The reasons:
- 50 percent believe they have more confidence on the job;
- 48 percent say they’re more productive;
- 47 percent say cite better decision-making skills;
- 46 percent value their ability to mentor junior employees;
- 45 percent appreciate that they require little to no training.
But hesitation runs deep:
- 75 percent of employers believe overqualified hires struggle to stay motivated in lower-level roles;
- 74 percent fear they’ll leave as soon as a better opportunity comes along;
- More than a quarter strongly agree with the above two concerns—26 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
- 58 percent would rather train someone new than risk disengagement from an overqualified employee.
Looming Retention Crisis in Healthcare
Photo by RDNE stock project
A new Healthcare Workforce Survey by Strategic Education Inc. finds:
- 55 percent of US medical workersplan to leave their jobs in the next year, putting the country on track for a shortfall of nearly 700,000 critical professionals by 2037, including physicians, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses.
- 49 percent of the medical workers surveyed cite inadequate compensation and benefits as their reason for leaving;
- 48 percent cite burnout or emotional fatigue;
- 48 percent cite a lack of career advancement, personal development, or educational opportunities.
- 43 percent of employers report that younger, early-career employees and nursing assistants are the hardest individuals and roles to retain;
- 42 percent say personal care aides are the hardest.
