Workforce planning is changing fast and companies that want to stay competitive in 2026 need strategies that match the speed of the labor market. Instead of slow hiring cycles with a lot of guesswork, organizations are finding real solutions by combining data, automation and live talent engagement. pepelwerk Match Events are becoming a core part of that shift because they give employers a direct way to find people who fit their company, identify skill gaps and build future-ready teams.
For HR executives and business leaders searching for practical and actionable approaches, these events and the technology behind them offer a new blueprint for hiring, talent development and long-term workforce growth.
Traditional recruiting methods make it hard to find people who actually fit your culture, goals and skill needs. Match Events flip that experience by letting companies meet candidates who are organized by attributes and capabilities instead of résumés. Employers choose the area of interest they need, attend live sessions and connect with job-ready talent who already meet their foundational requirements.
This approach helps companies build teams faster and cut down on recruitment process outsourcing or inefficient search models. It also strengthens broader workforce development strategies by giving companies clear visibility into which skills are available now and which will need to be developed through upskilling or reskilling programs.
As companies prepare for 2026, planning ahead is no longer optional. Leaders want to forecast the skills they will need in 3, 6 or 12 months and ensure they have scalable workforce solutions to fill those gaps. Using predictive workforce analytics and workforce optimization tools, the pepelwerk Work AI Assistant helps companies understand what roles they should hire for during these events, how many people they should expect to meet and how to evaluate long-term talent needs.
Some companies choose to build or create their own AI agent within the pepelwerk platform to tailor this planning process to their internal mobility tools or workforce planning system. This includes analyzing job demand, planning development pathways and using skill development tracking to make sure current and future employees have what they need to grow.
This gives companies a competitive edge because workforce planning no longer relies on assumptions. It becomes a measurable and strategic workforce solution guided by data.
Organizations that combine Match Events with predictive analytics see improvements across the entire talent lifecycle. They can match with people faster, reduce wasted spend on disconnected recruiting systems and streamline their learning and development marketplace.
Companies often find the greatest value in:
Planning effectively for 2026 requires a system that ties hiring, analytics and employee development together. pepelwerk gives companies a unified workforce planning platform that includes Match Events, predictive workforce analytics and AI-driven tools that support long-term growth.
With the Work AI Assistant, companies can identify gaps, plan hiring needs and match with candidates quickly and efficiently during events. Organizations that want more customization can build their own AI agent to improve internal processes, automate employee onboarding or strengthen their worker development marketplace.
As companies move into 2026, the strongest workforce development strategies will rely on real-time engagement, automation and data-driven planning. pepelwerk brings all three together so leaders can focus on building the workforce they need without unnecessary complexity.