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North American Edition
20th October 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Trump's immigration crackdown hits jobs hard

President Trump's immigration policies are significantly impacting the job market, particularly for low-wage workers. Monthly hiring has dropped to an average of 29,000 jobs from June to August, a stark contrast to the 400,000 jobs added during the post-pandemic boom. Economists warn that the loss of foreign workers could lead to near-zero job growth in the coming years. Lee Branstetter, an economist at Carnegie-Mellon University, emphasized: “Immigrants are good for the economy,” highlighting their role in mitigating inflation. The Congressional Budget Office has downgraded its economic growth forecast, attributing it to the fallout from Trump's immigration policies. Goodwin Living's CEO, Rob Liebreich, noted the challenges of filling roles after laying off immigrant workers, stating, “We need all those hands.”
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WORKFORCE

Shutdown freezes U.S. nuclear operations

The Department of Energy will furlough most National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) employees today due to the government shutdown, impacting critical nuclear stockpile work. Only 400 of 1,800 staff will stay on, with operations at Pantex and Y-12 moving to safe shutdown mode. “We are left with no choice this time,” said DOE spokesperson Ben Dietderich. Contractors will continue limited work until funding runs out, likely by October 28. “Everything would be locked up,” one NNSA source warned. While no immediate security threat exists, the shutdown endangers long-term modernization and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

 
CNN

Nurses strike ends, negotiations resume

A five-day strike involving thousands of registered nurses and other Kaiser Permanente health care workers in California, Hawaii, and Oregon concluded on Sunday. Kaiser Permanente welcomed back around 30,000 employees, stating that facilities were staffed by physicians and nearly 6,000 contracted nurses during the strike. The union emphasized that “patient care and safe staffing must come first,” while Kaiser noted that “wages are the reason for the strike and the primary issue in negotiations.” Sarina Roher, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, highlighted that competitive wages are essential to address staffing and access issues. Bargaining is set to resume this week, focusing on economic concerns. Kaiser Permanente serves 12.6m members across 600 medical offices and 40 hospitals, primarily in the western U.S.

Prepare for the jobs crisis ahead

The World Bank President Ajay Banga warned of an impending jobs crisis as 1.2bn young people will enter the workforce in the next decade, competing for only 400m jobs. He emphasised the need for education reform to ensure job readiness, as many employers struggle to find suitable candidates. Tiara Pathon from Microsoft highlighted the slow adaptation of education systems to industry demands, advocating for faster curriculum cycles and practical training. Without significant changes, the risk of frustration and social unrest among educated youth will increase, Banga noted.

San Francisco sees job market revival

San Francisco’s rebound is driven by a surge in AI investment and stricter return-to-office policies, boosting foot traffic and local employment. Salesforce is investing $15bn in workforce development and AI hubs, while Databricks plans to double its headcount. Businesses like Red Bay Coffee are seeing sales rise as office workers return. “It was a fantastic decision,” said founder Keba Konte, citing a 20% revenue boost. However, the AI boom has not generated broad job growth, with firms like Salesforce halting new engineer hires. Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city is “on the rise” but still faces housing and retail challenges.

Starbucks urged to restart union talks

A group of long-term Starbucks shareholders, including the New York City Comptroller and several investment firms, has urged the company to resume negotiations with its workers’ union over staffing, wages, and other issues. The shareholders expressed concern about worsening labor relations, citing numerous labor complaints, strikes, and protests. Talks between Starbucks and Starbucks Workers United, which represents over 12,000 baristas, have stalled since beginning in April 2023. Despite more than 650 unionized stores nationwide, no contract agreement has been reached since the first unionized store opened in Buffalo in 2021.
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HIRING

Rural tech hiring booms at Provalus

While hiring slows elsewhere, Provalus is scaling up in small towns like Tahlequah, Oklahoma, adding hundreds of tech and service jobs in low-income areas. With 35%–40% annual revenue growth, Provalus offers entry-level roles starting at $13–$14 an hour and pathways to six-figure salaries. “There is an untapped labor market in rural America,” said founder Chuck Ruggiero. By training nontraditional candidates and providing strong benefits, the company is reviving overlooked communities. “That allows us to create middle-class jobs quickly,” added President Mike Keogh. Its model competes with offshore giants by offering U.S.-based talent and logistical advantages.

Steinway builds jobs through craftsmanship

Steinway & Sons is defying U.S. manufacturing trends by growing jobs through skilled craftsmanship at its Queens, NY factory, where 200 workers build pianos by hand. “Everybody has a specific job here,” said 30-year veteran Bernard Craddock. Despite high costs, Steinway thrives by producing high-end instruments that take 11 months to make. CEO Ben Steiner noted: “Unless you’re focused on quality and innovation, you’re not going to survive.” Unlike mass manufacturers, Steinway avoids tariff impacts by sourcing materials domestically and invests in preserving generational skills to keep its historic U.S. factory running.

 
CNN
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HEALTH & SAFETY

Funding crisis threatens emergency response

State emergency management officials are grappling with significant funding challenges from the federal government, which threaten their ability to respond effectively to crises. Kiele Amundson, communications director at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said: “Every day we remain in this grant purgatory reduces the time available to responsibly and effectively spend these critical funds.” The situation has been exacerbated by severe cuts to federal security grants and new requirements for states to submit revised population counts, which complicate funding allocations. The uncertainty has led to hiring freezes and rushed decisions on training and equipment purchases. Experts warn that these developments undermine the federal government's goal of empowering state and local agencies in disaster response, potentially jeopardizing public safety.
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LEGAL

Reporter quits over press limits

National security reporter Andrew Thornebrooke resigned from The Epoch Times after it signed Pentagon press rules that restrict reporting practices. In his resignation email, Thornebrooke criticized the outlet for choosing to “abdicate our responsibility as journalists.” He also opposed a new editorial directive labeling antifa a terrorist group, despite the lack of legal basis. Thornebrooke cited increasing misinformation and editorial interference aimed at promoting partisan narratives. “They would suddenly be taking accurate information out of my stories and putting in false info,” he wrote. Other outlets, including Fox News and The Washington Post, refused to sign the Pentagon agreement.
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WORKPLACE

Could rejection therapy alter workplace risk taking?

Rejection therapy, a social media trend, is now influencing workplace behaviour. Professionals like Colleen McFarland say it builds confidence, while critics caution it lacks structure. Originator Jia Jiang has even trained teams at major firms.
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INTERNATIONAL

Houthi rebels detain U.N. staffers

On Sunday, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels detained two dozen U.N. employees in Sanaa, Yemen, following a raid on a U.N. facility. Jean Alam, a spokesman for the U.N. resident coordinator for Yemen, confirmed that the detained staffers included five Yemenis and 15 international employees. The Houthis released 11 other U.N. staffers after questioning. Alam stated that the U.N. is in contact with the Houthis to “resolve this serious situation as swiftly as possible.” The rebels confiscated all communications equipment from the facility, and the crackdown has previously led to the suspension of U.N. operations in Saada province. The U.N. has denied allegations from the Houthis that their staff are spies.

U.K. Christmas job searches at nine-year high

The tightening U.K. labor market has driven Christmas job searches to a nine-year high, up 28% from last year, with growing numbers of professionals and graduates seeking seasonal roles as a pathway to permanent employment. Petra Tagg of Manpower U.K. estimates that a quarter of applicants are recent graduates, while John Lewis has seen a 50% rise in applicants for its 13,700 festive positions. Experts also highlight that seasonal roles, particularly in retail, logistics, and hospitality, can help employers identify future high-performing staff. Tesco is hiring for 28,500 festive roles, with Elzbieta Golab, group people services director, describing Christmas jobs as a "key pipeline for our future leaders."
 
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