2026 L&D Jobs Market: Redundancies, AI Impact, and How to Get Hired Again with Nick Jones

Host David James speaks with recruiter Nick Jones about the 2026 Blue Eskimo Work and Salary Report and what it reveals about the L&D jobs market. They discuss post-pandemic budget spikes followed by budget reductions, projects being paused, and a rise in redundancies, with the report showing 22% of respondents experiencing redundancy or another form of involuntary exit over a year. Jones notes demand slowed sharply for learning design roles in early 2025 and that higher-salaried, strategic roles were also hit, driven by macroeconomic pressure and shifting expectations around AI. They cover global parallels such as budget caution, ROI pressure, skills gaps, and internal mobility. Practical advice includes: improving LinkedIn visibility and certifications understanding ATS and keyword screening tailoring applications when it truly fits strengthening sales, consulting, and stakeholder engagement skills to demonstrate L&D’s business value. 00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:41 Market Turmoil Drivers 06:01 Global View and Parallels 09:23 Redundancy Spike Explained 13:22 Roles Hit and Rebound 16:54 Strategic Skills That Matter 19:53 Job Specs vs Reality 22:28 Modern Job Search Playbook 27:21 LinkedIn and Personal Brand 34:54 CVs as Sales Tools 38:29 Outlook and Takeaways 41:22 Where to Find Resources About the Podcast: The Learning & Development Podcast, hosted by David James, CLO at 360Learning, explores the latest trends and strategies in corporate learning. Subscribe for more insights on: #LearningAndDevelopment #LDTransformation #Upskilling #CollaborativeLearning #CorporateTraining