Workforce, Talent & Succession
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U.S. Manufacturing Holds Steady in April as Costs Surge and Hiring Weakens
The ISM Manufacturing PMI registered 52.7% in April, unchanged from March and above the 50% level that indicates expansion. The reading suggests the broader economy continued to grow, extending an 18-month expansion streak.
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SupplyHouse Launches Foundation to Expand Skilled Trades Workforce
The foundation’s initial priorities include expanding the company’s Track to the Trades scholarship program, funding nonprofit organizations that support local trade communities and infrastructure and creating career pathways for the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
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Services Growth Slows in March as Costs Surge and Hiring Contracts
For distributors, slower supplier deliveries can translate directly into longer lead times, higher safety stock requirements, and increased working capital.
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Distributor AI Hiring Accelerates as Talent Race Intensifies
The expansion of AI hiring and the recruitment of senior technology leadership signal a shift where competitive advantage will increasingly depend on how effectively distributors can deploy and scale AI across core business functions.
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U.S. Business Activity Expands Modestly in January as Manufacturing Strengthens and Hiring Stalls
Business confidence in the year ahead remained positive but slipped slightly from late 2025 levels.
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Industrial Distributors’ Hiring in 2026 Signals Strategic Investment, Not Just Job Openings
As industrial distributors adjust to evolving customer expectations, hiring is emerging as a barometer.
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Public Distributors Step Up AI Hiring as Technology Moves into Core Operations
AI hiring is no longer confined to innovation labs at wholesale distributors.
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The Talent Imperative: Why Investing in Frontline Sales Talent Is the Key to Distributor Growth
This article makes the case for a strategic shift: treating sales talent not as a cost center, but as a growth engine.
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McLane Bets on Austin’s Tech Talent to Power Its AI Supply Chain Future
The Austin hub underscores McLane’s intent to weave automation, AI, and advanced analytics into every aspect of its business.
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Border States and Partners to Build Automation Workforce in North Dakota
Border States said the launch of the lab is only the first phase of a longer-term effort to strengthen workforce readiness in automation.