Breaking Job News: AI Mistakes Are Costing Companies, Confidence Is Falling, & Small Businesses Aren’t Hiring

AI is supposed to boost productivity, but new data shows it may be doing the opposite. In today’s episode of Cornering the Job Market, host Pete Newsome breaks down a troubling new survey on AI errors at work, alongside fresh signals that employee confidence is slipping and small business hiring is grinding to a near standstill.Pete starts with a report from Resume.org that highlights what it calls the “AI slop” problem. A majority of managers say employees are submitting AI-generated work with factual errors, missing context, and even compliance risks. In some cases, those mistakes are reaching clients and costing companies tens of thousands of dollars, forcing managers to step in and fix the work themselves.Next, he looks at the latest Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index. Confidence dipped heading into 2026, but the biggest decline isn’t among entry-level workers... It’s senior leadership. Pete explains why that matters, what it says about decision-making at the top, and how rising mentions of layoffs in employee reviews reflect growing unease across the workforce.Finally, he unpacks new hiring data from NFIB, which shows small business hiring has fallen to its lowest level since May 2020. Even so, many owners still report unfilled roles and a lack of qualified applicants, especially in construction and the skilled trades. Pete explains where the contradiction lies, why construction remains a long-term opportunity, and what job seekers and employers should take away from these trends.So here’s the question: Is AI making work better, or are companies and workers moving faster than they’re prepared for right now?Articles:1. Resume.org Survey on AI Slop Crisis: https://www.resume.org/ai-slop-crisis/2: Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/glassdoor-employee-confidence-index-january-2026/3: NFIB Small Businesses Jobs Report: https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/nfib-jobs-report-new-small-business-employment-index-shows-balanced-job-market/Don’t miss out! Subscribe for weekly updates on the latest job news.🧠 WANT TO LEARN MORE? Be sure to subscribe and check out 4 Corner Resources at https://www.4cornerresources.com/👋 FOLLOW PETE NEWSOME ONLINE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petenewsome/Blog Articles: https://www.4cornerresources.com/blog/