DEI Faces a Reckoning, The Workforce Is Hesitating, and Degrees Are Losing Value

December 19, 2025:  Workers are hesitating before changing jobs. Parents are questioning whether college is still worth the cost. Talent shortages persist even as hiring slows. And U.S. regulators are signaling a major shift in how companies approach DEI. In this episode, we explore six key future-of-work stories shaping how people think about careers, education, productivity, and fairness at work. From new data on job mobility and workforce policy to early recession signals and changing attitudes toward vocational paths, these stories reveal a workforce moving from confidence to caution—and from slogans to systems.