GettyIn a challenging job market that’s increasingly shaped by AI’s impact, it’s become apparent that more workers are saying goodbye to the goal of rapid career growth and are instead embracing the idea of greater career stability. According to a 2025 survey of more than 1,500 workers from Monster.com, 57% of employees said they plan to stay at their current company through 2026. This can largely be attributed to worker fears tied to economic uncertainty, with 40% of workers saying they expect the job market to get worse this year and 52% saying they expect nationwide layoffs to increase. Additionally, when looking at Gen Z and millennials, who now make up more than half of the U.S. labor force, a report from Deloitte found that a growing number of younger workers are making career choices that prioritize long-term stability over short-term advancement.Forbes senior contributor Tracy Brower links these statistics and economic concerns to the growing need for workers to understand the pragmatic ways in which they can show and prove their value at work. While there is no surefire way to future proof your career from uncertainty, Brower outlines in her recent piece a few things workers can do now if they want to remain relevant, dependable and successful in their field. Read here to learn why she says staying curious, connected, competent, compelling and creative can increase your chances of career security. This is a published version of Forbes’ Careers newsletter. Click here to subscribe and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. WORK SMARTER Practical insights and advice from Forbes staff and contributors to help you succeed in your job, accelerate your career and lead smarter.Summer is the smartest time to prepare for performance reviews at the end of the year, says leadership expert Esther Choy. Use this simple storytelling tool to spotlight your valuable work.Some workers regret taking a new job despite the initial relief it brings. These job offer red flags can reveal warning signs you may have missed during the interview process, according to executive coach Caroline Castrillon.Public speaking is the ultimate career skill in the age of artificial intelligence, according to personal brand expert William Arruda. See how public speaking will strengthen your career.A job at your dream company? It may take more than networking to land one, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine. Here are three different ways to raise your odds of getting your foot in the door.GettyDeep Dive: Small Businesses Aren’t Hiring Because They Can’t Find Qualified WorkersIn June, 62% of small business owners reported that they hired—or sought to hire–new workers, according to a survey of over 400 participating entrepreneurs by the National Federation of Independent Business. But, over half of the respondents said they found few or no qualified applicants for the jobs they wanted to fill. As a result, nearly 20% of small business owners told NFIB that finding qualified workers was the most pressing concern for them. Forbes staff writer John Schroyer explains that immigration restrictions play a role in this hiring issue, with the National Association of Home Builders reporting that immigrants accounted for a third of skilled construction workers in 2024. Plus, Schroyer says hiring experts have pointed to a growing mismatch between the skills workers have and the skills employers need to fill the available jobs.Additionally, with tariffs and rising fuel costs from the war in Iran, experts tell Schroyer that some small businesses are being much more cautious about their hiring decisions today. “Small businesses are becoming very, very careful about preserving their cash and hiring,” said Bob Coleman, author of the Coleman Report, a trade publication for small business bankers. “That is a consistent theme; it’s been a consistent theme over the last couple of years.”Whether because of qualified labor shortages or a general cautiousness about the economy, Schroyer points out that small business hiring has mostly stagnated for the past four months, with the NFIB’s employment index registering 100.2, down from 100.3 in May, which both reflect a weaker labor market.TOUCH BASENews from the world of work. Nearly 50% of job applicants say they’ve used AI while searching for a job, with Bloomberg reporting that more employers are becoming worried that candidates are using the tool to fake their way through the interview process. As a result, a growing number of organizations are rethinking their approach to hiring, with some now considering in-person interviews, AI-fraud training, and AI-detection software. In recent years, organizations have gone all-in on AI usage, with companies like Amazon posting employee usage figures on internal leader boards, while other companies have tied usage to performance reviews and bonuses. Now, after growing employee backlash, the Financial Times reports that some companies are rethinking their incentives around AI and are instead focusing on quality over quantity when it comes to using the tool.