In this episode, Denise Chaffin sits down with industryanalyst and publisher Matt Charney to break down the real state of recruiting and what the TA community can expect in 2026. Matt brings deep context from years across recruiting, analytics, media, and workforce insights, giving a grounded and balanced view of what’s actually happening beneath the noise.

The conversation covers the difference between a recessionand a reset, the impact of AI on both job stability and recruiter workflows, and why so many teams are struggling with hiring efficiency and long-term planning. Matt highlights the roles that will matter most, including talent intelligence, workforce strategy, and internal mobility design. He also explains why sourcing as we know it is already automated and whyrelationship-driven recruiting is now the strongest competitive advantage.

Denise and Matt explore the shift toward employee “hugging,” burnout risk, and how companies are rediscovering the importance of cross-training, upskilling, and human-first roles. They also dig into candidate development, internal referrals, and why employer branding priorities shiftdramatically during downturns.

The episode ends with practical encouragement for TAprofessionals: the market will swing back, AI is not eliminating the profession, and recruiters who develop multidimensional business, marketing, and advisory skills will thrive when hiring ramps again.

Key Episode Segments:

• The talent market is in a reset, not a collapse, and AI is shaping perception more than reality.

• Sourcing is already automated across most tools, putting more importance on human candidate engagement.

• Internal mobility, referrals, and talent intelligence will become the strongest levers for future hiring.

• Employers are overextending existing staff, increasing burnout and creating demand for human-first roles.

• Recruiters who build business literacy, competitive intelligence, and advisory skills will be positioned for future growth.