Georgetown’s Center on Education and the Workforce, along with Lightcast labor market projections, says the U.S. is on track for the biggest worker shortage in its history, even as tech companies cite AI and layoffs. The story highlights recruiting constraints in specialized fields and warns that AI-related narratives may obscure a broader talent deficit. The projected shortfall is expected to extend beyond tech, with shortages forecast across nurses, physicians, teachers, engineers, mental health counselors, and skilled trades. Lightcast’s principal economist Ron Hetrick said society’s critical workforce categories are the ones likely to be hardest hit. Higher-ed relevance: colleges and universities face dual pressures—meeting enrollment demand for high-need majors while building partnerships with employers to accelerate training and credentialing pathways.