E18: Inside the Data: What the Labor Market Is Telling Us in 2026
VOScast · Geographic Solutions
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Show Notes
In this episode, we are joined by Phillip Sprehe, Lead Economist at Geographic Solutions, for a focused conversation on how labor market forecasts are built and what the data reveals about the U.S. workforce in early 2026. Phillip pulls back the curtain on the Economist Corner, explaining how internal indicators, unemployment claims data, and real-world adjustments shape monthly forecasts ahead of the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The discussion explores a softening labor market, sector-level performance, rising concerns about chronic unemployment, and the growing role of AI in both hiring and productivity, offering practical takeaways for workforce boards, analysts, and economic development professionals navigating an increasingly complex labor landscape.