HR professionals are facing challenges as they spend significant time reviewing applications that do not meet job criteria, including both technical and soft skills. “We've got a skills mismatch that's playing out in the labor market, and it is only going to be more true over time, because the labor market was built to look at jobs as titles, not tasks,” Aneesh Raman, chief economic opportunity officer at LinkedIn.

Traditional job descriptions are becoming obsolete as companies shift to modular, project-based work to keep pace with technology, writes entrepreneur Chris Kille. This approach involves assembling teams with specific skills for particular projects and requires businesses to rethink their hiring processes and manage flexible teams with both full-timers and freelancers.

Rituals can improve employee engagement and team dynamics during times of change, according to a study by Cosmic Centaurs CEO Marilyn Zakhour and Institute for Life at Work founder Constance Noonan Hadley, who recommend leaders be committed to rituals, ensure meaningful participation and communicate the value among teams. "Don't be afraid to cancel rituals that no longer serve you, introduce new ones if needed, and most importantly, allow teams to adapt the rituals to their needs, preferences, and cultural context," they write.

A Slingshot report found that while 80% of employers believe they communicate goals effectively, only 20% of employees feel informed about objectives. The report, which points out the communication gap can lead to a decline in productivity, attributes employees' detachment to digital overload, generational differences and poor work-life balance.

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order calling for federal agencies to return employees to full-time in-person work at their offices. The order notes that "the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary."

Microsoft and Pearson have announced a multi-year partnership to enhance AI skills among workers by developing new AI certificates and learning pathways. This collaboration will leverage Microsoft's Azure Cloud and AI technologies to power Pearson's educational content and create new AI-focused credentials -- addressing the global AI skills gap and supporting career advancement.

MIT researchers are developing robotic insects to improve agricultural pollination, aiming to reduce reliance on natural pollinators and mitigate environmental issues. These tiny robots, inspired by bees, can hover for extended periods and perform complex maneuvers. These robots might also change farming by allowing pollination in controlled environments, promoting sustainable agriculture practices.