Human Times

European Edition

18th February 2026

THE HOT STORY

UK unemployment soars to five-year high

UK unemployment has reached 5.2%, the highest level since early 2021, according to the latest labour market data. The jobless rate increased from 5.1% in the previous quarter, with 130,000 fewer workers on payrolls over the year. Young people, disabled people and men are bearing the brunt of the rise. Earnings growth also slowed, with basic pay rising by 4.2%, down from 4.4%. In London, the unemployment rate surged to 7.6%, nearly double the 4% rate in the south east. Youth unemployment has reached 18.8% in the capital, compared with 14% country-wide, with the number of 18-24 year olds out of work up by 80,000 on the quarter to 575,000. Commenting on the figures, Suren Thiru, economics director at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, said: "The UK's jobs market is continuing to come apart at the seams as the stifling squeeze from spiralling labour costs pushes more businesses to pivot from simply freezing recruitment to actively cutting jobs."

Financial Times

City AM

The Guardian

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LEGAL

HR teams are drowning in slop grievances

Disaffected employees can now effortlessly create complaints using AI, leaving firms with the time-consuming job of responding. Employers are advised to intervene in problems before employees start considering an AI complaint.

Financial Times

LEADERSHIP

Christine Lagarde to leave ECB before end of eight-year term

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde is expected to step down from her role before her eight-year term ends in October 2027, the Financial Times reports. It isn’t clear yet when she may exit, the report said. “President Lagarde is totally focused on her mission and has not taken any decision regarding the end of her term,” an ECB spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Financial Times

Bloomberg

WORKFORCE

Belgian workers strike over Israeli officer's visit

Factory workers at FN Herstal in Belgium went on strike after Col. Moshe Tetro, an Israeli officer, participated in a tour organised by the Belgian Defence Ministry. The General Labour Federation of Belgium condemned Tetro's visit as "unacceptable," citing violations of international law. Workers halted production and protested outside the factory. Dyab Abou Jahjah, chairman of the Hind Rajab Foundation, praised the strike and labelled Tetro a "war criminal." He called for the Belgian government to expel Tetro and has filed complaints against him in the International Criminal Court.

The Times of Israel

ECONOMY

UK quietly shelves frictionless post-Brexit trade border project

The UK government has suspended its single trade window (STW) project, which aimed to streamline post-Brexit trade processes. After spending £110m on the initiative with Deloitte and IBM, no funds have been allocated since January last year. The Treasury confirmed the programme's early closure amid concerns over costs. Mike Lewis, director of TaxWatch, an investigative tax-focused think tank, commented: "For all intents and purposes the single trade window has been cancelled without HMRC or Deloitte and IBM having delivered anything. But neither HMRC nor ministers appear to wish to admit this." While policy development continues, there is no set timeline for the project's future.

Financial Times

The Guardian

German population set to shrink 5% by 2050

German economic think-tank Ifo has revised its forecast for a 1% population decline by 2050 to nearly 5% - a drop that would leave Germany with its smallest population since 1990.

Financial Times

REGULATION

Croatia’s Sunday trading row reignites as small retailers push for exemption

Debate over Sunday trading in Croatia has resurfaced after small family retailers called for exemptions from the current law limiting stores to 16 working Sundays per year. Small shop owners argue the restrictions have reduced turnover, particularly from lost impulse purchases, and say they cannot absorb the impact like larger chains. The Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts has backed calls for greater flexibility, insisting small businesses should not be treated the same as major retailers. However, Economy Minister Ante Šušnjar has ruled out changes, defending the 2023 legislation on cultural and constitutional grounds, noting it was designed to withstand legal challenges and support family life. Despite mounting pressure from business groups - particularly in tourism-dependent areas - the 16-Sunday limit remains in place for now.

Croatia Week

INTERNATIONAL

Goldman Sachs plans to drop DEI from board-candidate criteria

Goldman Sachs plans to eliminate race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other diversity-related factors from the criteria its board uses to assess prospective candidates. The bank's decision follows a request that it removes the DEI criteria from the conservative activist nonprofit National Legal and Policy Center, a small shareholder in the lender. The Wall Street Journal notes that the DEI climate has changed radically for companies in recent years. A turning point was President Trump’s executive order last year directing federal departments and agencies to launch civil investigations into corporate DEI programs.

Wall Street Journal

Hong Kong's auditors warned over IPO workloads

Hong Kong's Accounting and Financial Reporting Council has warned auditors handling initial public offerings to evaluate their resources and expertise. The regulator has expressed concern that increased listing activity could compromise audit quality. In an open letter, officials noted that some auditors serving public interest entities are managing exceptionally high workloads alongside existing responsibilities, warning that the situation raises questions about their ability to maintain professional standards.

Bloomberg Tax

GE trains robots for repairs

GE Aerospace is upgrading its Singapore repair hub with automation, digital tools, and AI to address overloaded engine repair queues and scarce parts. Veteran technician Suresh Sinnaiyan is teaching a robot to replicate the delicate manual “blending” of compressor blades, a task requiring “eye, feel and coordination.” GE says the broader effort could total up to $300m and raise repair volume by 33% without expanding floor space. CEO Larry Culp said, “It’s not about sprinting at quarter’s end . . . It is making every hour and every day count.”

Reuters

OTHER

France saw record egg consumption last year

In 2025, France saw record egg consumption driven by affordability amid economic uncertainty, with each resident consuming an average of 237 eggs, a rise from 227 in 2024. The trend is expected to continue, with projections suggesting demand could reach 269 eggs per person by 2035. This steady growth, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a 20% increase in wholesale egg prices over the past year, although retail prices remained stable due to government price controls. Producers plan to build 575 new poultry houses by 2035 to meet demand.

Reuters

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