**The big picture:** A new national survey reveals employers are struggling to identify current employee skills and future skill needs as AI rapidly reshapes the workplace. **Why it matters:** This lack of visibility creates a significant challenge for staffing leaders and talent acquisition executives in developing competitive workforces and addressing the evolving skills gap. **Between the lines:** - The Harris Poll conducted the national survey on behalf of University of Phoenix. - The focus is on how individuals can specialize in in-demand skills to remain competitive. - The report highlights the struggle isn't whether skills matter, but knowing which skills employees possess. **Staffing & HR impact:** Talent development strategies must adapt to proactively identify and cultivate AI-relevant skills, impacting recruitment pipelines and internal mobility programs. This directly affects gross margins by increasing the cost of upskilling or external hiring for critical roles. **The bottom line:** Proactive skill assessment and continuous learning are paramount for workforce resilience in the AI age.

**The big picture:** Nearly half of U.S. employers report unfilled roles, with the hiring process itself identified as a major bottleneck. One in five open positions now close without a hire, largely due to job seeker difficulties with automated systems. **Why it matters:** This trend directly impacts productivity, growth, and talent acquisition strategies, forcing leaders to re-evaluate their recruitment pipelines and candidate experience. **Between the lines:** - 44% of U.S. employers have unfilled roles. - 1 in 5 open positions close without a hire. - Automated hiring systems are a significant barrier for job seekers. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms face increased pressure to streamline client hiring processes and provide human-centric solutions to overcome automation hurdles. HR departments must audit their tech stacks to ensure candidate engagement rather than attrition. **The bottom line:** The human element remains critical in a tech-driven hiring landscape.

**The big picture:** Employers are set to increase hiring in the second half of 2026, yet nearly half are struggling to fill open positions due to a persistent talent shortage. This trend is driven by growing workloads, new roles, and employee turnover. **Why it matters:** This ongoing disconnect between hiring demand and available talent poses a significant challenge for corporate growth and operational stability, elevating the strategic importance of effective talent acquisition and retention. **Between the lines:** - Hiring demand is fueled by increased workloads, newly created positions, and employee turnover. - A survey by Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll indicates widespread difficulty in filling roles. - The struggle to find workers is a consistent theme heading into year-end 2026. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms will experience robust demand for their services but must innovate to overcome candidate scarcity. HR departments face pressure to enhance recruitment strategies and bolster retention efforts to mitigate business disruption. **The bottom line:** The talent crunch will continue to be a defining factor for workforce planning and business success through 2026.