Labor market trends heading into 2026 – Wharton professor's breakdown

Matthew Bidwell says the track of the labor market next year could go either way. There isn't currently sufficient information to make a strong guess about outcomes next year.

ABOUT THE EPISODE Matthew Bidwell, Professor of Management and Xingmei Zhang and Yongge Dai Professor at the Wharton School, takes a look back at the past year in the job market and what lies ahead in 2026 as part of our annual faculty predictions series. He explores trends in the labor market, including unemployment, job change rates, and recent waves of layoffs. Bidwell also discusses growing uncertainty around AI’s impact on work, how automation may reshape different sectors, and what all of this means for new college graduates entering the job market.

ABOUT THE PODCAST This Week in Business features interviews with Wharton faculty about the latest news, fascinating trends, and issues impacting both consumers and the business world. Episodes are recorded at the Wharton School and published twice per week.

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