AGP Executive Report

Labor Market Watch: U.S. job openings edged up in July to 7.27 million, but hiring cooled and quits stayed below prior momentum—signaling steady demand with more caution from employers. Fed & Inflation Pressure: Middle East tensions pushed oil higher, lifting bond yields and keeping rate-hike odds elevated; Fed Gov. Michael Barr said the central bank should act decisively if inflation doesn’t cool. Manufacturing Hiring: ISM data showed factory activity slowing in August, even as manufacturing vacancies remain a key source of openings. Construction Jobs: Construction job openings hit a nearly two-year high, tied to data-center and power-related building demand. Workplace AI Rules: Employers are navigating new state AI laws (including Colorado’s updated approach and Connecticut’s disclosure duties) while federal efforts to preempt state employment rules face legal and political hurdles. AI Education & Skills: Universities are expanding AI-focused degrees and minors to prepare students for AI-heavy workplaces. Big Employer Moves: Walmart is investing $1.3B in a next-gen fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA (about 1,000 jobs), while Astemo plans a $112M Kentucky expansion adding 114 jobs. Workforce Stressors: Child care costs are driving a major economic drag, and new reporting highlights how many Gen Z adults still rely on parents for financial support.

Hiring Pulse (JOLTS): U.S. job openings edged up to 7.27 million in July, while layoffs fell and quits also declined—signaling a labor market that’s steady but not exactly booming. Fed vs. the job market: President Trump renewed pressure for lower rates, but Fed officials are warning they’ll act if inflation doesn’t cool, with markets pricing a higher chance of a September hike. Markets and paychecks: Rising oil and bond yields dragged stocks at the start of September, a reminder that borrowing costs can hit hiring and household budgets. Workforce opportunities: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is joining a DHS Career Expo in Buffalo to connect job seekers with mission-critical roles and USAJobs guidance. Local hiring wins: Kentucky’s Astemo Americas announced a $112M expansion creating 114 new jobs (with a larger potential total). Workplace trend: Gartner flags “regrettable retention,” where low turnover can hide underperformance because employees feel they can’t afford to leave. Fraud risk in hiring: A report says remote IT applications increasingly show North Korean fraud patterns, pushing employers to tighten screening. Skilled trades pipeline: A push for skilled trades and workforce expos highlights ongoing demand for workers with practical, job-ready skills.

Skilled Trades & AI Infrastructure: A new report says data-center buildouts are driving a surge in trade hiring, with Washington leading per-capita availability and Virginia ranking high for overall volume—good news for electricians, HVAC techs, pipefitters, and construction crews. Semiconductor Jobs: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun joined SK hynix for a groundbreaking on a $4B advanced packaging hub in West Lafayette, targeting about 1,000 workers during operations. Workforce Pipelines: The SBA launched its inaugural Manufacturing Workforce Expo to connect students to apprenticeships and manufacturing careers, while a Blue Collar Virtual Trade School partnership with Lincoln Tech expands training pathways in electrical, HVAC, automotive, and welding. Local Hiring: Walmart announced a new automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, Georgia, expected to create about 1,000 jobs. Immigration & Student Work: Northwestern put a hold on CPT requests for international students unless required for graduation, citing federal guidance changes. Labor Market Watch: Markets are bracing for “Jobs Week” data (JOLTS, ADP, claims, and nonfarm payrolls) as Fed-rate expectations swing. Career Access for Youth: Wisconsin’s RESTART grant will fund BRIDGE-WI to prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for in-demand skilled trades and manufacturing roles. Pay Negotiation: Research highlights how lower-income workers are less likely to negotiate and may face backlash when they do.

Workforce Training Funding: Wisconsin’s RESTART grant is backing BRIDGE-WI with $5M to route justice-involved youth (ages 15–24) into apprenticeships and work-based learning across advanced manufacturing, IT, construction trades, shipbuilding and emerging AI-related fields. Career Access for Farmworkers: California is expanding its farmworker outreach with a $100,000 investment to grow La Cooperativa Campesina de California’s bilingual radio programming, aiming to connect workers to local job training and career opportunities. Education-to-Workforce Money: Puerto Rico signed an order to adopt the Workforce Pell Grant Program, setting up the state structure to evaluate short-term programs tied to high-demand occupations and unlock federal training funds. Hiring & Jobs at Scale: Walmart plans a 1.5M-square-foot automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA, targeting about 1,000 new jobs in Franklin County. Skilled Trades Pipeline: A new partnership between the Blue Collar Virtual Trade School and Lincoln Tech is designed to strengthen skilled-trades career pathways in electrical, HVAC, automotive and welding. Layoff Watch: South Carolina’s latest WARN report flags 4,489 impending job losses, including Electrolux (1,245) and a Winnsboro facility closure (254). Labor Market Reality Check: A new report warns that even when workers re-enter employment, many are taking pay cuts—only 49% of re-employed full-time workers earned as much or more than their prior jobs. HR Tech Recognition: Phenom is opening submissions for the 2027 Phenom HR Awards, spotlighting organizations using AI to improve hiring, engagement and retention.

Fed Watch: Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole message is pushing markets toward higher rates, with traders now eyeing the next U.S. jobs data as the key test for the Fed’s path. Hiring & Labor Market: Wall Street is bracing for the July job openings/turnover report and the August monthly jobs report, after signs the labor market stalled—exactly the mix that can force tough Fed tradeoffs between inflation and employment. Workforce Development: A push to modernize apprenticeships is getting attention after Switzerland’s model helped keep youth unemployment low; the U.S. angle: expand apprenticeships beyond construction and start earlier in high school. Skilled Trades Pipeline: Career-technical programs in Pennsylvania highlight fast-growing roles (solar, wind, industrial mechanics, nursing assistants) and stress dual-credit pathways into certificates and degrees. Digital Skills: St. Paul’s free DIGIDAZE fair targets digital literacy for job searches and school support, pairing hands-on help with refurbished devices. Employer Moves: Apple is adding 200 permanent jobs at a Kentucky glass plant, while Walmart plans a $1.3B fulfillment center in Georgia creating 1,000 roles. Immigration & Work: A proposed steep H-1B fee is reigniting debate over whether it will steer employers toward hiring and training Americans. Job Search Reality: Spirit Airlines workers in Florida are still hunting months after the shutdown, describing a “ghost” job market and attending multiple fairs.

Hiring & Pay Signals: Apple will add 200 permanent hourly jobs at its Harrodsburg, Kentucky iPhone glass plant, nearly doubling the site’s workforce, with more construction roles tied to a planned innovation center. Retail Jobs: Walmart announced a $1.3B next-gen fulfillment center in Carnesville, Georgia, expected to create 1,000 jobs. Labor Market Pressure Points: New York Fed-watchers are bracing for this week’s July job openings/turnover report and Friday’s August jobs report, after July employment stalled—key for how the Fed sets rates. Fed & Inflation: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole remarks pushed markets toward a higher chance of a rate hike, keeping hiring and pay decisions in the spotlight. Workforce Skills & Access: St. Paul hosted a free digital literacy fair to help families with job applications and online tools, while a Luzerne County guide highlights fast-growing skilled-trade pathways. AI Anxiety Abroad: In China, workers fear AI job displacement even as economists argue AI reshapes tasks more than it wipes out full-time roles. Talent Pipeline Risks: A Wisconsin report warns “brain drain” quietly erodes talent potential even when education levels look strong. Recruiting Friction: A DHS career expo in Buffalo was canceled after local officials raised safety concerns.

Fed Watch: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole remarks landed as a hawkish nudge, with markets pricing a higher chance of a September rate hike as inflation stays above target. Jobs & Hiring Signals: Wall Street is bracing for the August jobs report after a July employment stall, with job openings/turnover data also due—key inputs for how fast the Fed moves. Workforce Skills: A St. Paul digital fair pushed digital literacy as families navigate school, job applications, and online tools amid statewide AI changes. Skilled Trades Pipeline: A Luzerne County education op-ed and local CTC coverage highlight fast-growing career paths and dual-credit routes into skilled trades and healthcare roles. Recruiting & Compliance: A DOL Section 503 rule update changes how federal contractors handle disability status self-identification, raising practical questions for HR teams. Visa & Labor Debate: A fresh H-1B fee fight reignited after a tech investor mocked JD Vance’s push to hire Americans, fueling another round of controversy over foreign labor costs. Local Hiring Boom: Walmart is set to build a $1.3B automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, Georgia, creating 1,000 jobs. Job Market Strain: Former Spirit Airlines workers continue searching months after the shutdown, with “ghost” responses still common. Workplace Tech Risk: Reporting flags how AI and fake job candidates can expose businesses to cyberattacks. Talent Pool Caution: A leadership piece warns that managers can shrink the applicant pool through narrow assumptions and hiring requirements.

Fed Watch: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh told markets inflation is still too high and hinted the central bank may need rate hikes soon, keeping hiring and borrowing costs in focus as the economy wobbles. Jobs Data Countdown: Wall Street is bracing for the July job openings/turnover report Tuesday and the August monthly jobs report Friday after July employment stalled unexpectedly. H-1B Firestorm: A Silicon Valley investor mocked JD Vance’s push to hire and train Americans, triggering backlash as a proposed $103,265 H-1B fee raises new questions about who gets hired. Talent Pipeline Pressure: A new report warns skilled trades face a 1.3M-worker gap, with retirement driving shortages and employers struggling to find trained hands. Federal Hiring Rules: The FBI loosened some background disqualifiers for applicants, a shift that could affect recruiting and HR screening practices. Workforce & Community Hiring: Walmart announced a $1.3B automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA, targeting 1,000 jobs, while DHS canceled a Buffalo career expo over safety concerns.

Hiring Reality Check: Spirit Airlines shutdown workers in Broward County are still job hunting nearly four months later, with applicants hearing “ghost” and attending repeated fairs as temporary protected status changes ripple through local hiring. Big Employer Moves: Walmart is investing $1.3B in a next-gen fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA, aiming to create 1,000 jobs with automated operations starting late 2026. Workforce Policy Watch: A new DOL Section 503 rule rolls back a federal contractor requirement for disability self-identification, raising practical questions for HR teams about what they can still collect pre-offer. Federal Hiring & Compliance: The FBI reportedly eased some background-check standards, including under specific limits for past prostitution-related admissions. Labor Market Signals: Jobless claims fell again, while “ghost jobs” and fake postings remain a growing concern for applicants. Housing + Jobs Link: Realtor.com finds more home shoppers viewing out-of-market listings, driven by affordability and job opportunities. Rates & Hiring Climate: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaled inflation is still too high and rate hikes may be needed, adding uncertainty for employers planning pay and hiring. Local Career Access: A DHS career expo in Buffalo was canceled after safety concerns were raised by local officials.

Federal Reserve Watch: New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh told investors in Jackson Hole that inflation is still too high and hinted rates may need to rise if underlying trends don’t improve, while Wall Street digested the message as bond yields moved higher. Hiring & Layoffs Signals: Jobless claims fell to 203,000, beating forecasts, pointing to a steadier labor market even as hiring stays uneven. Skilled Trades Pipeline: A Lightcast report says skilled trades make up about 20M jobs and face a 1.3M-worker talent gap, with retirement driving shortages; the takeaway for employers is to invest in training and apprenticeships. Workforce Development Events: Fleet Readiness Center Southwest held a recruiting event in San Diego to fill 200+ roles tied to Navy and Marine aviation readiness. Retail Jobs: Walmart announced a $1.3B automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA, expected to create 1,000 jobs; Primark also posted Georgia job openings ahead of its first store opening in Lawrenceville. Housing Costs & Mobility: Mortgage rates remain elevated (30-year fixed averaging 6.66%), keeping many buyers on the sidelines, while roommate growth in Raleigh shows affordability pressure shaping where people live. AI in Hiring: Reports highlight AI bias risks in hiring systems and how job seekers are increasingly dealing with automated screening that can block real people. Education-to-Work Pressure: A case involving an Indian student’s suicide after months of job searching underscores how hard the transition from degree to employment can be.

Labor Market Watch: Initial U.S. jobless claims fell to 203,000 (week ended Aug. 22), beating forecasts and pointing to rare layoffs even as hiring stays soft. Workforce & Training: Boeing will more than double its North Charleston registered apprenticeship slots to 1,000+ over two years, aiming to route more students into skilled manufacturing without a four-year degree. Local Hiring Push: Walmart announced a $1.3B automated fulfillment center in Carnesville, GA, creating 1,000 jobs. Skills Pipeline in Rural America: Wakulla Environmental Institute is expanding a drone program that helps residents earn FAA Part 107 certification for roles in inspection, public safety, and environmental monitoring. Higher Ed Under Pressure: Federal funding uncertainty is driving universities to shrink Ph.D. programs, with doctoral students reporting fewer stable paths into research careers. AI in HR: A new look at AI bias warns automated hiring tools can trigger racial and systemic rejection, raising legal and reputational risk for employers. Policy/Jobs Climate: Trump’s war on offshore wind is leaving workers in limbo as projects stall or get canceled. DEI Compliance Risk: DOJ says Deloitte will pay $21.5M over alleged discriminatory DEI practices tied to false claims under federal contracts.

Labor Market Watch: Initial jobless claims fell to 203,000 and continued claims eased, pointing to layoffs staying low even as hiring feels sluggish. Trade & Jobs: The goods trade deficit widened to $118.8B in July as capital-goods imports jumped on the AI build-out, keeping trade a drag on growth. AI & Hiring Risk: Bill Gates renewed his warning that AI could trigger major labor disruption and cyber risk, while employers face fake candidates and deepfake interview fraud. Workforce Development: Lake-Sumter State College won a $5.2M grant for an Eustis training center targeting CDL and electrical lineworker shortages. Local Hiring Push: Walmart plans a $1.3B, 1.5M-square-foot Carnesville fulfillment center creating 1,000 jobs in rural Georgia. Immigration & Labor Shortages: Texas restaurants report staffing losses and fewer applicants tied to tougher immigration enforcement. Federal Workforce: Unions sued over Trump-era OPM changes that they say make firings easier and reduce employee protections. STEM Pipeline: Navy STEM outreach brought high school students to NSWCPD for hands-on engineering career exposure. Tech Economy: Big tech earnings lifted Wall Street as AI demand keeps fueling hiring and investment.

AI and jobs: Bill Gates says the lack of AI safeguards is “silence,” warning millions of jobs are at risk and proposing “Human Reserved” roles that society should keep human-led even if machines can do them. Policy and global talks: Gates also wants to meet China’s Xi to push international limits on dangerous AI releases and monitoring for bio-attack risks. Workforce development: Wisconsin’s WOW Works is expanding reentry and skilled-trades pathways for justice-involved youth and young adults with a $5M RESTART grant. Training for manufacturing: Electric Boat and NEIT are expanding a Rhode Island training center to prepare about 8,000 new hires. Hiring on the ground: A Calhoun County job fair in Alabama connected workers to local employers and state openings. Employment law: California’s Supreme Court ruling explores when an employer’s agent can be liable for discrimination—important for HR compliance. Privacy at work: A new study finds employee-monitoring apps often share worker data with major tech firms without clear notice. Local labor signals: Iowa’s unemployment held at 3.2% in July, with construction adding jobs.

AI & Jobs Policy: Bill Gates says the tax system nudges employers to replace workers with robots and argues for taxing AI/robots, plus he’s pushing “human-reserved” roles that should stay off-limits to AI displacement. AI Risk & Global Governance: Gates also wants to meet China’s Xi to coordinate AI safeguards, including monitoring AI’s ability to create molecules and enable biological attacks. Workforce Development: Wisconsin’s WOW Works will use a $5M U.S. DOL RESTART grant to expand reentry and apprenticeship pathways for justice-involved youth and young adults. Biomanufacturing Talent: Novonesis is partnering with Metropolitan Community College in Nebraska and launching scholarships to build biomanufacturing technician pipelines. Training for Hiring: Electric Boat and NEIT are expanding a Rhode Island workforce-training center with $45M total support to prepare about 8,000 new hires. Privacy at Work: A new report finds employee-monitoring apps often share worker data with Big Tech and third parties without clear notice. Immigration & HR Costs: The Trump administration proposes making H-1B fees permanently over $100K, with employers and foreign workers bracing for major cost and policy shifts. Labor Market Signals: Iowa’s unemployment rate held at 3.2% in July, while consumer confidence dipped again as gas prices stay above $4. Cross-Border Trade: Canada announced retaliatory 50% tariffs on U.S. goods, raising fears about jobs on both sides of the border.

Federal Workforce Fight: Federal unions sued the Trump administration over two OPM final rules that unions say weaken civil service protections and make it easier to fire workers, challenging changes to performance ratings and “suitability” decisions. Immigration & Hiring: Reuters breaks down the H-1B visa fee fight, with the administration proposing a permanent fee above $100,000 after earlier increases sparked lawsuits—an issue that directly affects tech and professional hiring pipelines. DEI Crackdown: Deloitte agreed to pay $21.5 million to settle claims tied to a DOJ probe of DEI practices under the False Claims Act, adding pressure to HR and compliance teams at federal contractors. Job Market Reality Check: A report highlights the “ghost job” problem—nearly 19% of online postings flagged as ghost roles—while another roundup lists September WARN filings, signaling layoffs may still be coming even as unemployment stays relatively steady. Local Hiring & Training: Greenville County Schools is hosting a transportation-only job fair to fill 50 bus driver openings and bus aide roles, and Electric Boat/NEIT expanded submarine workforce training in Rhode Island to help meet thousands of new hires. AI Careers & Skills: CBRE data points to data scientists as the top AI-linked job in the U.S., while multiple pieces stress that job seekers need a more human, targeted approach as AI reshapes hiring.

H-1B Costs Rise: The Trump administration is proposing a new $103,265 fee per cap-subject H-1B petition, stacking on top of a separate $100,000 fee and drawing sharp pushback from employers and immigration lawyers. AI and Hiring Anxiety: A study finds AI-written resumes can hurt response rates, while other reporting shows workers fear AI job loss—and some are already shifting roles, like former Lyft drivers now maintaining Waymo robotaxis. Workforce Signals: Southern California job growth is slowing (still positive, but weaker than the national pace), while Mississippi hit a record high for nonfarm jobs. Education and Careers: Voters want stronger AI rules in K-12, and Big Tech’s deeper school involvement is sparking backlash over who shapes learning. Trade Pressure: New U.S.-Canada tariffs are reigniting uncertainty for industries tied to cross-border demand. Career Events: U.S. Customs and Border Protection will join a DHS Career Expo in Buffalo Sept. 1–2, 2026.