Tariff Refunds Boost Hiring-Adjacent Growth: More than $100B in Trump-era tariff refunds has flowed back to U.S. businesses, with S&P 500 firms logging about $9.6B so far—supporting earnings and adding tailwinds to GDP growth. Inflation vs. Wages: Gas prices are easing but still run high, while wages are lagging inflation—fueling fresh worries about affordability and job mobility. AI Reshapes Entry-Level Careers: Students are rethinking majors as AI changes what employers expect, and some job seekers are even pulling out after AI interview experiences. Automated Interviews After Hours: A growing share of AI-powered interviews are happening late at night, helping shift workers and parents—yet trust in AI hiring remains shaky. Workforce Training Wins in Tourism: West Virginia’s Tourism Works program hit 25,000 microcredentials and 1,000 college credit hours, aiming to fill thousands of tourism openings. Skilled Trades Pipeline: Superior Crane’s paid SCC-University trades program is graduating its 2026 class, building local talent for welding, machining, electrical and more. Corporate Expansion Creates Jobs: Vulcraft’s $59M St. Joe expansion could add up to 20 high-wage jobs by 2027. Higher Ed Layoffs Signal Risk: Harvard’s social sciences cuts highlight how budget pressure is spreading through U.S. universities. EEOC/Nike Update: The EEOC says Nike complied with a subpoena and dropped a related lawsuit, keeping the broader investigation alive. Local Hiring Pulse: A “NOW HIRING” roundup spotlights active job openings for Valley-area employers.