The latest L&D news, reports, research and updates, personally compiled by TJ’s Editor, Jo Cook. This week: Concerns grow over AI’s impact on people’ cognition, new guidance tackles menopause support, YouTube explores mainstream culture, finance roles evolve, Learning & Performance Tech Week launches, and the Civil Service tops graduate rankings.
The $5.5 trillion AI skills gap is being filled by peers, not corporate L&D
Companies are losing $5.5 trillion in productivity due to AI skills gaps, as leaders prioritise software over employee upskilling. With under 25% receiving structured training, workers face anxiety and increased workloads from uncoordinated tools.
A grassroots movement is emerging, with peer leaders building human-centred AI pathways. This movement emphasises the “human in the loop,” ensuring AI augments, rather than replaces, human wisdom and ethics.
True AI maturity lies in equipping people to integrate their expertise into an automated world, driven by peer solidarity, not just enterprise licenses.
78% of HR and talent leaders warn AI poses a threat to leadership pipelines
With AI visibly impacting the early careers market, Global talent management solutions provider Talogy has identified a rapidly developing threat to the future workforce: a leadership pipeline that is shrinking.
Talogy surveyed 207 senior HR leaders, talent acquisition managers, and learning and development experts, finding that 78% are concerned about the long-term loss of critical leadership skills. With AI taking on tasks and responsibilities traditionally associated with entry-level roles, there is a growing risk that skills may not develop as naturally as they once did.
HR says its job demands have grown — but without needed support
HR has expanded beyond its original functions and become a more integral part of broader organisational goals, resulting in many HR teams taking on “a more consequential mandate without the support to match it,” according to the 2027 State of People Strategy Report from HR software firm Lattice.
The study found that 55% of HR leaders said they have considered leaving their professions over the past year due to feelings of being undervalued (39%), always working in crisis mode (35%) and general burnout (34%). Another 21% cited concerns about being replaced by artificial intelligence.
Enterprises in shaky spot amid calls for an AI slowdown
The mounting calls for federal regulation of AI in the U.S. and debate over the need for a global AI slowdown have introduced uncertainty for enterprises unsure whether restrictions will hinder their use of open-weight models.
With all the calls for the federal government to act, enterprises find themselves in an uncertain position, adding even more unpredictability to a technology that is already unstable in some ways.
Is AI killing worker cognition?
Employers are scrambling to teach workers how to use artificial intelligence tools in line with business priorities — but in turn, AI tools may be actively degrading employees’ current skill sets, various stories have shown.
Beyond the threat of workslop overtaking assignments — described as AI generated content that may be riddled with errors — employees have reported in various surveys that AI tool use has worsened their critical thinking skills, affected their judgment, and even made them less intelligent.
World-first International Standard launched as demand grows for better workplace support during menstruation and menopause
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has today launched ISO 45010 – Occupational health and safety management — Menstruation and menopause in the workplace — Guidance, the world’s first International Standard providing guidance to help organizations support employees experiencing menstruation and menopause at work.
Millions of people experience menstruation and menopause related health challenges during their working lives, yet workplace policies often fail to reflect their impact on employees. ISO 45010 provides practical recommendations to help employers better support health, wellbeing and inclusion in their organisations.
YouTube report examines mainstream culture
YouTube published a new report about the evolution of mainstream culture, which examines how expanded internet access has created a new dynamic of niche trends and microinfluences. The report found that most people still align with foundational, popular trends and want to feel like they’re part of a bigger cultural conversation despite increased access to niche communities.
59% of quantitative finance professionals say AI has expanded their job responsibilities
New research from the CQF Institute, part of Fitch Learning, finds that AI is not reducing the need for quantitative finance professionals. It is instead raising expectations at every level. As AI takes on more routine work, employers are increasingly seeking professionals who can combine quantitative depth with practical implementation skills, financial understanding, and the judgement to validate and challenge AI-driven outputs.
Key findings:
- 74% expect AI to drive major or complete transformation of their role within five years
- Quant Developers, Quant Researchers, and Machine Learning Engineers are among the hardest roles to fill
- 84% believe continuous learning is now essential for long-term career success
Producers of DevLearn & Learning Leadership announce the debut of: Learning & Performance Tech Week 2026 with exciting event firsts
On November 2 – 6, 2026 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the learning community will get a first and exciting glimpse into the future of Learning Guild events. This year’s co-location of DevLearn and Learning Leadership, along with spotlight events including the AI for Learning Summit, new conference tracks including Learning Team & Project Management, and new learning paths aimed at helping learning teams prove the business value of their initiatives – marks the start of: Learning & Performance Tech Week.
Civil service tops graduate-employer league table for second year running
The civil service’s Fast Stream programme for future high-fliers has been voted as the nation’s best graduate scheme for the second year running.
The accolade, recorded in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2026-27, is based on research among more than 15,000 final-year students who were due to graduate from UK universities this summer. According to the guide, 6.4% of all respondents named the civil service as the nation’s leading graduate employer.
Read more on our sister website Civil Service World.
