Colleges and universities are confronting twin workforce pressures: a wave of retirements among seasoned employees and tight talent markets that make hiring harder. Industry analysis urges phased-retirement programs to retain institutional knowledge and recommends new succession planning. Complementing that, the EdWeek Research Center’s EdRecruiter 2026 survey found districts and recruiters shifting tactics—adopting AI in hiring, emphasizing mental-health supports, and recalibrating candidate outreach—to stem vacancies. For higher education HR and academic leadership, the trends point to revamped retention packages, mentorship roles for emeritus faculty, and stronger ties with teacher-preparation programs to rebuild pipelines.