Workspan Daily News Bytes for Dec. 19, 2025

Most Don’t Fully Explain Their Rewards Programs’ Design, Purpose

According to Korn Ferry’s latest Global Total Rewards Pulse Survey, only 1 in 4 organizations clearly explain their reward programs’ purpose and design. The consulting firm’s research was gleaned from the responses this fall of nearly 8,000 organizations across more than 140 countries.

Most surveyed organizations (76%) reported they either do not communicate their reward strategy or only communicate high-level/general philosophy statements. This leaves just 24% of organizations that provide meaningful detail behind the what, why and how of reward program strategy.

In addition, while employees are usually considered to be the most important stakeholder of the reward program, only 50% of organizations involve employee input into directly shaping the reward strategy. Of those that do, the most common practice is via engagement surveys followed by informal input from managers.

In characterizing their rewards program:

41% of responding organizations said it was documented but expressed primarily as high-level philosophy statements;
33% said it was clearly defined and largely consistent with market practice, peers, similarly situated companies or leading practice;
12% said it was tailored to the business strategy but not significantly differentiated from talent competitors;
11% of respondents said it was not formally documented; and,
3% said it was highly business-aligned and differentiated from talent competitors.

November Job Cuts Continue Trend of Year-Over-Year Jumps

U.S.-based employers cut 71,321 jobs in November, according to a new report by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The latest figure reflects an increase of 24% from the 57,727 job cuts announced in the same month last year.

November’s total is the highest for the month since 2022, when 76,835 job cuts were announced. It is the eighth time this year job cuts were higher than the corresponding month one year earlier.

“Layoff plans fell last month, [which is] certainly a positive sign. That said, job cuts in November have risen above 70,000 only twice since 2008: in 2022 and in 2008,” said Andy Challenger, the firm’s workplace expert and chief revenue officer.

According to the report, the industries that cut the most jobs in November included:

Telecommunication (-15,139)
Technology (-12,377)
Food (-6,708)
Services (-5,509)
Retail (-3,290)

Meanwhile, data released on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics showed American nonfarm employers added just 64,000 jobs in November.

ManpowerGroup Predicts Stable Hiring Outlook to Start 2026

Forty percent of organizations plan to increase staff in the first quarter of 2026, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest Employment Outlook Survey of more than 39,000 employers across 41 countries. The staffing firm’s survey also showed 40% of surveyed respondents plan to maintain current headcount and 16% expect to reduce workforce levels.

Among those expanding payrolls, the top motivators were:

Organizational growth (37%)
Investment in new business areas (26%)
Backfilling recent departures (19%)

For those planning headcount reductions:

29% cited economic challenges
24% said market changes have reduced demand for some roles
22% reported they are reducing staff to meet current demand
20% pointed to automation

By sector, employers in finance and insurance (32%), information (29%), and construction and real estate (27%) reported the most optimistic hiring plans. Those in the public sector (20%), health and social services (20%), utilities and natural resources (22%), and trade and logistics (23%) signaled the most cautious hiring plans.

“Hiring is steady because organizations still need human skills to grow, but they are being very intentional about where they invest in additional talent,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup’s chair and CEO. “[Artificial intelligence] will be a powerful driver of productivity in the coming years, but today the economic climate is shaping hiring decisions. Employers are prioritizing specific roles and capabilities needed to meet current demands.”

Employers Are Changing How They Evaluate Job Candidates

A new workforce report by Western Governors University found U.S. employers are broadening how they evaluate candidate readiness beyond simply having a diploma.

The report’s key findings included:

86% of surveyed employers see non-degree certificates as valuable for indicating job readiness.
78% of employers said work experience is equal to or more valuable than a degree.
68% of employers viewed degrees as important, with information technology as well as finance and professional services placing the highest importance compared to other industries.
Only 37% of employers said higher-education institutions are preparing students with the skills needed to be successful in the workforce.

While there is a renewed emphasis being placed on soft skills during the hiring process, the report found a growing number of employers also are evaluating technical skills surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) tools and other emerging technologies:

Employers identify critical thinking and problem solving, time management and adaptability/resilience as the three most critically important skills for job success in the next 12 months.
50% of employers are assessing candidates’ AI fluency through comfort with AI tools, AI skills and certifications, and an ability to integrate AI into their work.
52% of employers assess AI competency through technical or skills-based assessment and/or on-the-project evaluations.

Figures and Facts of the Week

25: The percentage of the nearly 3,000 survey respondents (high school students, college students and recently hired workers) who could not correctly identify a 401(k) as an employer-sponsored retirement plan, according to the SPARK Institute’s 2025 study on financial and retirement literacy.
34: The percentage of job seekers who are leveraging AI in their job searches, according to a survey by recruitment software platform Howdy. The survey revealed applicants are using AI for tasks such as resume improvement (77%), resume writing (62%), cover letter writing (61%) and cover letter improvement (51%).
44: The percentage of employees who said they were willing to change jobs to better accommodate their caregiving responsibilities, according to new research from Employee Benefit News. The data showed 16% of surveyed workers are actively looking for new jobs and 69% are prioritizing caregiving benefits.
45: The percentage of U.S. workers who reported using AI at work at least a few times a year between the second and third quarters of 2025, according to a new Gallup poll. The research also found frequent use (a few times a week or more) grew from 19% to 23%, while daily use moved less, ticking up from 8% to 10% during the same period.
65: The percentage of organizations that lack a formal CEO security program, according to a new survey from executive compensation firm Pearl Meyer. Only 9% of the surveyed respondents have adopted comprehensive, multi-layered programs.

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