The HR week,distilled.

Sainsbury's has launched a new work experience initiative called KickStarter, aiming to provide 10,000 opportunities for young people across England, Scotland, and Wales over the next year.

Recruit Holdings reported that its U.S. revenue from HR Technology reached a record $1.64 billion for the quarter, marking a 30% increase.

The Predictive Index released its 2026 AI and People Leadership Survey, which polled 399 managers and 208 CEOs across various industries.

A survey by MyPerfectResume.com of 1,000 U.S. workers published on August 28, 2026, reveals that 71% of employees consider the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement unrealistic.

Researchers Valeria Pfeifer from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Matthias Mehl from the University of Arizona published a study in Perspectives on Psychological Science showing a 28% cumulative decline in daily spoken words over 20 years.

A report by Lightcast released on August 28, 2026, indicates a growing labor shortage in skilled trades.

A report by the Transamerica Institute reveals that 42% of middle-class Americans expect self-funded savings, including 31% relying on 401(k)s and IRAs, to be their primary retirement income source.

A study by Paylocity surveying 1,000 HR leaders identifies missing qualified candidates as the primary concern in AI-driven resume screening.

A study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder, published in August 2026, indicates that remote workers report the highest levels of well-being.

In March 2026, the ActivTrak Productivity Lab released its annual State of the Workplace report, analyzing 443 million hours of work across 1,111 organizations and 163,638 employees.

Amy Pope of the International Organization for Migration reports that human traffickers are increasingly targeting educated, English-speaking youth via social media with fraudulent job offers.

Former Meta employees are increasingly moving to senior and staff roles at major technology and advertising companies including OpenAI, TikTok, Amazon Ads, and Roku.

Maryland-based nonprofit Fello, led by CEO Jonathon Rondeau, restructured its healthcare benefits by transitioning to a self-insured model approximately four years ago.

Dave Bowers, managing director at EPM Scientific, reports that CDMOs are facing significant challenges in hiring specialized talent due to demand outpacing supply.

The article published by Employee Benefit News on August 26, 2026, advocates for a shift from legacy insurance brokerage models to a fiduciary-led diagnostic approach for corporate benefits.

Indeed Hiring Lab released a report on August 25, 2026, analyzing labor market tightness across various regions.

Indeed Hiring Lab released its 'Best Cities for Work 2026' report on August 25, 2026.

Also: 25 Aug — indeed.com

Nova Healthcare Administrators Inc. released a report highlighting the necessity for stronger partnerships between brokers and third-party administrators (TPAs) to manage rising healthcare costs.