"Dry promotions" are becoming more common as companies face economic challenges, with 13% of companies using new job titles without pay raises to manage costs, according to a Pearl Meyer survey. This trend, which affects younger workers the most, can lead to burnout and retention issues, experts say.

Research from LinkedIn shows that 20% of Gen Z workers have not had a direct conversation with colleagues over 50 in the past year, highlighting a gap in intergenerational communication. On the other end, 40% of workers over 55 have not spoken to Gen Z colleagues. LinkedIn's Charlotte Davies suggests reverse mentoring as a way to bridge this gap.

Gen Z is poised to comprise a third of the workforce next year, but HR leaders face the challenge of bridging a soft skills gap, HR leaders and other executives say. Gen Z excels in digital skills and emotional intelligence but often lacks networking and negotiation abilities, according to workplace strategist Jennifer Moss.

A significant number of workers are declining promotions, citing job satisfaction, feeling overworked or misalignment with career goals, according to a Randstad survey. Promotions have become rarer, with only 1.3% of white-collar workers promoted in early 2024, the lowest in five years, according to ADP data.

Difficult co-workers can be challenging, but Kathleen Davis, host of "The New Way We Work" podcast, suggests several solutions, including inviting them to lunch or coffee to understand better what makes them tick or using "I" statements such as "I know we don't see eye-to-eye, can we work on ways to find common ground?" "Chances are your workplace jerk might be acting that way because of stress you're not aware of. It also might not be personal," Davis notes.

Banks like JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley are becoming increasingly attractive to tech talent, traditionally drawn to companies like Google. The financial sector is aggressively hiring in AI and tech roles, offering job stability and opportunities for research and patents, drawing 22% of Cornell's 2023 computer science graduates. Banks are focusing on AI work and tech development, with leaders like Jamie Dimon investing in robust research departments to attract talent.

Job posting requiring college degrees declined this year, with only 17.6% demanding such qualifications as of October 2024, down from 20% in 2019, according to a new report from Indeed Hiring Lab. This shift, partly due to companies like IBM Corp. dropping degree requirements, offers more jobs to non-graduates but complicates job prospects for recent college grads, many of whom are underemployed.

Political and social unrest are expected to be major workplace risks in 2025, with 75% of senior decision-makers expressing concern, according to a report from International SOS. The report highlights the impact of geopolitical tensions and the mental health stress on employees, with 78% of survey respondents predicting burnout will significantly affect operations.

Google's Year in Search 2024 reveals the top search trends from around the globe, offering insights into the topics that resonated most with people this year. In a year filled with so much geopolitical drama, it is surprising to see how sports topics dominate the Top 10 Global search queries.

I love end-of-year celebrations at work, and this year our SmartBrief team won the Innovation of the Year award at parent company Future's annual awards. The SmartBrief editorial department developed an internal tool that greatly improved efficiencies in producing the 270 newsletters we do.

Next week we'll host our own best-of awards to recognize the amazing work my direct colleagues do. Don't forget to recognize your workers and end the year on a positive note. -- Janet Connor Kahler, editor of Your Career