🌟 Editor's Note
Q4 2025 is officially here (and I know there’s a LinkedIn post somewhere in there…).
The job economy is still rocky, headlines are chaotic, and a lot of people are just trying to make it to the next paycheck. But even in all that noise, there’s good news peeking through: small wins, smart pivots, and people who keep showing up anyway.
If you’ve been stuck, waiting, or just running on caffeine and blind optimism — same. Take this issue as your reminder that even when everything feels uncertain, it’s not the end of the story.
Stay positive, stay real, and don’t lose your weird spark. 💜
Jen
⚡️ In This Issue ⚡️
🚫 Top Story
🤖 Pause the (AI) Panic
🗞️ The Workplace Wire
🏆 Employee of the Month
TOP STORY
🚫 Ctrl+Shutdown
The U.S. federal government has entered its sixth day of shutdown due to a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over the 2026 fiscal budget.
The shutdown has furloughed roughly 800,000 federal employees, with another 700,000 working without pay.
So what does this actually mean? Here’s a quick, no-fluff breakdown in 10 points:
➡️ 10 Things You Should Know About Government Shutdowns
Paychecks stop, bills don’t. Many federal workers dip into savings or credit cards just to get by.
Millions of workers are sent home. About 2 million federal employees and 1.3 million active-duty military members can be affected, depending on how long it drags on.
“Furloughed” = unpaid vacation. Workers stay home and don’t get paid until Congress decides to act like adults again.
Contractors get the short end. Most federal contractors don’t get back pay, so cafeteria workers, janitors, and security guards are just… out of luck.
The economy feels it fast. Every week a shutdown lasts, billions get shaved off GDP — and everything from housing permits to small business loans stalls.
It’s not total chaos. Planes still fly, Social Security checks still go out, and border patrol still works — just with more side-eye than usual.
It’s a political flex. Shutdowns happen when Congress uses the budget to make a point — like saying, “no dinner until you clean your room.”
We’ve done this before. There’ve been 14 shutdowns since 1980. The longest lasted 35 days (Dec 2018–Jan 2019) under President Trump.
National parks turn into chaos. They’re technically open, but no one’s picking up trash or unlocking bathrooms. Nature, but make it lawless.
It’s not the debt ceiling thing. A shutdown is about spending — not whether the U.S. can pay its bills. That’s a whole different circus.
Read more here.
HERE TO HELP
🤖 Pause the (AI) Panic
Forget the scary headlines about AI taking over. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon says AI will actually grow the workforce over the next decade by automating repetitive tasks while creating new roles in data science, ethics, and AI integration.
“AI doesn’t shrink organizations; it evolves them,” Solomon says — framing the technology as a tool to handle grunt work and let humans focus on higher-level projects.
Goldman plans to invest billions in AI to tackle more complex deals, streamline operations, and expand advisory services — moves that could increase headcount rather than cut it.
For job seekers and employees, Solomon’s vision paints AI as a collaborator, not a replacement — and a way to unlock new opportunities for anyone ready to level up their skills.
Read more here.
🗞️ The Workplace Wire 🗞️
📉 Long Haul Unemployment
Long-term unemployment is climbing, and even skilled workers are hitting months of silence. Hundreds of applications, zero callbacks — is this our new normal? Read more here.
⚓ Next in Line
Gen X could be next in line for long-term job insecurity. With fewer pensions, high debt, and volatile markets, some experts say universal basic income might be the only safety net left. Read more here.
🚀 Never Too Late
Until next time! ✌️
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