Breaking Job News: Worst Hiring Rate Since COVID - What the JOLTS Report Really Says

Episode notes

The February JOLTS report just dropped, and the headline number demands attention. Hires fell to 4.8 million, down nearly 500,000 in a single month, pushing the hires rate to 3.1%, the lowest reading since April 2020. In today's episode, host Pete Newsome breaks down what's driving the disconnect between 6.9 million job openings and only 4.8 million actual hires, which sectors took the hardest hits, and what the data means for job seekers who are already feeling the freeze. He also covers the 2026 SANS Cybersecurity Workforce Report, which surfaces a pattern now repeating across virtually every industry: the problem isn't finding enough people, it's finding people with the right skills. AI is automating the entry-level roles that used to develop junior talent; companies are skipping straight to senior hires, and the resulting pipeline problem will compound for years. ADP's employment report drops tomorrow. The BLS jobs report follows on Friday. Pete previews what to watch in both. New episodes every week. Subscribe wherever you listen. Articles: 1. BLS February JOLTS Report: 2. SANS/GIAC 2026 Cybersecurity Workforce Report: ️ WATCH TODAY'S EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: WANT TO LEARN MORE?

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