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The skilled trades shortage is being called a $1 trillion workforce problem. But what if it’s a problem we helped create?

For decades, we closed factories, moved jobs, laid people off, and told a generation that the path to a good career ran through college, not the trades. Now employers are scrambling for welders, technicians, electricians, manufacturing talent, and other skilled workers.

We sat down with Toshiba CHRO Jason Desentz to talk about how we got here and, more importantly, what it will take to rebuild.

In this episode, we get into:

• How decades of layoffs, offshoring, and steering people toward college helped create today’s skilled trades shortage
• Why outdated perceptions of manufacturing and trade careers haven’t caught up with the jobs themselves
• How employers can rebuild talent pipelines through high school partnerships, apprenticeships, and internal training
• Why career mobility and development matter just as much as getting people in the door
• The role trust, culture, and community play in keeping skilled workers
• How AI and automation could enhance skilled work rather than simply replace it

Because we’re not going to solve the skilled trades shortage by waiting for more workers to show up. We have to rebuild the pathways that lead people there.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

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AI layoffs that may not actually be about AI. Entry-level jobs disappearing before anyone gets laid off. White-collar workers taking new jobs for less money. Women leaving the workforce in alarming numbers. And healthcare costs heading toward another massive increase.

Yeah. August was a lot.

In this month's Work News Recap, we break down five stories shaping work right now — what the data actually says, what we think is happening underneath the headlines, and what employees and leaders should be watching next.

Including:

• Why some companies that cut jobs because of AI may end up hiring those roles back
• The growing problem at the bottom of the career ladder — and what it could mean for the next generation of leaders
• The troubling numbers for women in the workforce
• The early evidence that white-collar work may be getting repriced
• Why your 2027 healthcare benefits could get more expensive — and less generous

No trend reports. No corporate speak. Just the work news worth paying attention to — and what the hell it actually means.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com

Send us Fan Mail

The hiring market isn't frozen. It isn't booming. It's something in between.

Every week brings another contradictory headline. Companies are investing billions in AI while slowing hiring. Job postings are up, applications are flooding in, and yet organizations across industries still struggle to find the talent they need.

So what's really happening?

In this episode of Your Work Friends, we sit down with three leaders who spend every day inside today's hiring market to separate the headlines from reality. Together, we explore why many hiring systems were designed for a workforce that no longer exists, how AI is reshaping recruiting without replacing the need for human judgment, and why organizations need to rethink how they identify, develop, and retain talent in a rapidly changing world.

Joining us are:

• Alex Ridder, Global Head of Client Partnerships at LHH
• Ravi Subramanian, Founder & President of Chicago Recruiting Forum
• Brandon Welch, Head of Talent Acquisition at BambooHR

Together, we discuss:

• Why hiring feels "slushy" instead of frozen or booming
• How AI is changing recruiting and where human oversight still matters
• Why Gen Z and workers over 50 are facing the same underlying hiring challenge
• Whether college is keeping pace with the skills employers actually need
• The growing role of internal mobility, continuous learning, and skills-based hiring
• What organizations should rethink before automating their hiring processes

Whether you're hiring, leading a team, working in HR, or navigating your own career, this conversation offers practical insights into where hiring is headed and what leaders can do today to build a workforce that's ready for what's next.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. We are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.

Thanks for listening!

Hey! We love new friends! Connect with us!

• On The Socials! You Tube, TikTok, Instagram on LinkedIn - Mel + Francesca.
• The LinkedIn Group: We'd love to have you join the Your Work Friends Group on LinkedIn
• Drop Us a Line: Send us your ideas, questions, comments, complements, whatnot, to friend@yourworkfriends.com