Labor Markets Most Districts described little or no net change in overall employment levels. While three Districts described modest increases, five reported slight increases, and four reported no significant change. Overall, labor market conditions were little changed. Labor supply was generally adequate to meet demand; however, shortages persisted for specialized, technical, and skilled trade workers. Five Districts reported that some firms had either reduced staffing levels (through attrition), delayed hiring, or anticipated less job creation after increasing productivity by investing in AI. 14-OCT-2026 02:01 PM ET