Spotlight 'I need a job to save my life': The hunt for work in America Jessica GuynnUSA Today Nov 2, 2026 Nov 2, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago 0 × Aljazeera As AI reshapes the US labour market, millions of workers are learning new skills to stay ahead of automation. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Inflation and a stagnant job market thrust the economy to the forefront of the November midterms.kAm&$p %@52J |@?6J C6A@CE6CD 72??65 @FE 24C@DD E96 &]$] E@ 6I2>:?6 9@H p>6C:42?D 2C6 4@A:?8 H:E9 DF556? =2J@77D[ 6?5=6DD ;@3 D62C496D 2?5 E96 8C:?5 E@ >2<6 6?5D >66E]k^AmkAm%96 52J 27E6C {:DD6EE6 #2>@D 3C@F89E 9@>6 EH@ 7@DE6C 42ED[ r92C=@EE6 2?5 $H66E[ E@ 96C pC=:?8E@?[ '2][ 2A2CE>6?E[ D96 =@DE 96C 7:CDE 4@CA@C2E6 C@=6 :? 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E96:C @H?]”k^Am Briana Grace, 31, preps for work Sept. 29 during her lunch break at her home in The Woodlands, Texas. Antranik Tavitian, USA Today kAm%96 7:?2?4:2= DEC2:? — =@D:?8 :?4@>6[ 36?67:ED[ C6E:C6>6?E 4@?EC:3FE:@?D — :D 962GJ 6?@F89 @? :ED @H?] qFE :E :D @7E6? 4@>A@F?565 3J D@>6E9:?8 566A6Ci H@F?565 D6=7\4@?7:56?46 2?5 E96 A6CD:DE6?E 762C @7 36:?8 ;F5865 — ?@E ;FDE 3J AC@DA64E:G6 6>A=@J6CD[ 3FE 3J 2 DA@FD6 @C A2CE?6C[ C6=2E:G6D @C 4=@D6 7C:6?5D]k^Am kAmQv6EE:?8 =2:5 @77 :D AC6EEJ >F49 2=H2JD 2 D9@4< E@ E96 DJDE6>[Q D2:5 uC2?46D |4z66\#J2?[ 2 >2?286>6?E AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6G252[ #6?@]k^Am kAms6AC6DD:@? 2?5 2?I:6EJ DA:<6 H9:=6 =:76 D2E:D724E:@? A=F>>6ED] !9JD:42= 962=E9 @7E6? DF776CD[ E@@]k^Am kAmy@3=6DD?6DD :? 62C=J 25F=E9@@5 42? 5:DCFAE :56?E:EJ 7@C>2E:@? 2?5 A6C>2?6?E=J 56AC6DD =:76E:>6 62C?:?8D[ |4z66\#J2? 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D6G6C2?46 4964<D 2?5 42D9 C6D6CG6D]k^Am Briana Grace, 31, with her daughter Soraya, 3, on Sept. 29 at their home in The Woodlands, Texas Antranik Tavitian, USA Today kAmqC:2?2 vC246[ b`[ 925 H@C<65 4@?E:?F@FD=J D:?46 286 `d] $:8?:?8 E96 =62D6 7@C 2 w@FDE@? 2A2CE>6?E :? |2C49 H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 2 7C6D9 DE2CE 7@C 96C 2?5 96C b\J62C\@=5 52F89E6C]k^AmkAmq67@C6 E96J 4@F=5 >@G6 :?[ E96 A2JC@== DA64:2=:DE H2D =2:5 @77 7C@> E96 4@>A2?J D96 42==65 9@>6 7@C 7@FC J62CD]k^AmkAm$96 E9C6H 96CD6=7 :?E@ E96 ;@3 D62C49] w6C F?6>A=@J>6?E 36?67:ED A2:5 92=7 96C 7@C>6C A2J4964<[ 2?5 96C 7:?2?4:2= 4FD9:@? G2?:D965 :? ;FDE EH@ >@?E9D]k^Am kAmQ%96 92C5 A2CE :D DE2J:?8 72:E97F= 2?5 9@A67F= 2?5 ;FDE <66A:?8 :E 8@:?8[Q D96 D2:5]k^AmkAm~?6 @7 E96 7:CDE 42DF2=E:6D @7 2 3CFE2= ;@3 >2C<6E :D H92E v6@C8:2 $E2E6 >2?286>6?E AC@76DD@C $@?8B: {:F 42==D Q;@3 D62C49 D6=7\677:424J[Q 2 42?5:52E6VD 36=:67 :? 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E96 >2C<6E 2?5 56=2J65 4C:E:42= >65:42= 2AA@:?E>6?ED[ 7@==@H\FAD 2?5 5:28?@DE:4 E6DE:?8]k^Am kAms6DA:E6 23@FE a[___ 2AA=:42E:@?D DF3>:EE65[ D96 =2?565 ;FDE `_ :?E6CG:6HD 2?5 C6>2:?D F?6>A=@J65]k^AmkAmQx ?665 2 ;@3 E@ D2G6 >J =:76 — BF:E6 =:E6C2==J[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am 0 Comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story US workers head back to school to reskill as AI reshapes the job market As AI reshapes the US labour market, millions of workers are learning new skills to stay ahead of automation. Watch Now: Related Video France: Student Protests Resume With School Blockades Across Country 2. 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Government-politics Fed holds rates steady as it awaits 'accumulation of more information' Howard Schneider Reuters
US workers head back to school to reskill as AI reshapes the job market As AI reshapes the US labour market, millions of workers are learning new skills to stay ahead of automation.