AI & Hiring Reality Check: Gartner says 80% of big firms already deploying AI agents cut headcount, but the cuts didn’t improve returns—raising questions about “efficiency” narratives versus real performance. Responsible AI at Work: Amazon scrapped its internal AI leaderboard after staff “tokenmaxxed,” pushing unhealthy competition and higher costs. AI’s Uneven Job Risk: ILO warns GenAI could hit clerical and admin roles fast in developing economies, where digital gaps may block workers from benefiting from productivity gains. Finance Jobs Pressure: Morgan Stanley projects 20% of European bank jobs at risk over five years (up from 10%), with back-office roles most exposed. Wage Trends in Asia: Singapore reports fewer firms granting raises in 2025, but retention remains the top reason; real wage growth improved as inflation eased. Youth Employment: UK data shows Black youngsters face the highest NEET rate (15.2%), and Labour is pushing Armed Forces careers to tackle 1m+ young people outside work or education. US Labor Market: US jobless claims rose to 215,000, but the broader labor market looks stable. University Layoffs: UK’s University of Aberdeen may cut up to 111 jobs under a £10m savings plan, with voluntary measures first. Workplace Fairness: Tigerair Taiwan faces pressure to repay about 20 pregnant employees after a ruling found unpaid leave violated employment equality law. Regional Pay Gap: Spain’s Murcia reports foreign workers earn ~€8,500 less per year than Spanish employees, with migrants concentrated in lower-paid roles.