The next six months are critical for businesses that want to stay competitive in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Employers who use the summer and early fall to make intentional hiring moves will be the ones closing Q4 strong and entering 2026 ahead of the curve.
Forecasting Hiring Needs with a Workforce Planning Platform
Planning your hiring strategy early is the difference between success and scrambling. A modern workforce planning platform gives HR and talent managers the visibility to project their people’s needs before skill gaps begin to hurt productivity.
The mid-year point is a natural time to reevaluate goals, assess which projects need support and prepare for growth. This is also when leaders should start planning to fill high-demand roles, especially those tied to AI and digital innovation. Hiring early gives you the lead time to onboard, train and align new team members before deadlines start stacking up.
The Future of Hiring: Develop People Before Filling Out Applications
Future Skills to Start Hiring For Now
Hiring employees with even foundational knowledge in these areas now can reduce the need for expensive last-minute hires later. Pair that talent with internal career training programs and you’ll have a workforce capable of adapting as technology evolves. AI and automation are accelerating, and the industry’s need for workers with complementary technical skills is rising. The following skills will be especially valuable heading into Q3 and Q4:
- Prompt engineering
- Data literacy and visualization
- Machine learning operations
- Cybersecurity fundamentals
- Cloud-based software proficiency
- AI ethics and compliance knowledge
- Basic coding (Python, SQL)
- Digital communication and collaboration tools
How a Talent Development Marketplace for Businesses Makes Proactive Hiring Easier
Whether you're building roles from the ground up or expanding your current team’s skill sets, a talent development marketplace for businesses streamlines the process. From AI-powered workforce matching to automated recruiting systems, platforms like pepelwerk help you find, onboard and grow the talent you need—fast.
Using abilities-oriented recruitment gives your company a competitive advantage. It allows you to hire people for their potential and develop them into the specialists your business will need. And when supported by RPO services and a talent management AI assistant, you can keep your hiring proactive and cost-effective.
Let pepelwerk Help You Meet Your Goals
If you’re looking for ways to proactively prepare your workforce for the next six months, pepelwerk is your partner in success. With integrated workforce development strategies, access to affordable outplacement services, and a system built for goal-based hiring, we help businesses stay ready for what’s next.
