The "Work smart, not hard" message, which promotes white-collar jobs over blue-collar work, is partially responsible for increasing the skills gap and student debt, says "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe. "We've laid out a road map that says the best path for most people is also the one that's the most expensive," Rowe said to attendees at the 2018 HR Technology Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas.

Technology companies know they need more diversity among their ranks, but hiring managers often run into barriers when recruiting. Anisa Purbasari Horton outlines four common obstacles, including employers' unwillingness to deviate from recruitment methods.

Longer maternity leaves lead to unintentional negative career outcomes for women, including related to promotion potential, pay and leadership ability, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. The study found that letters of recommendation and "keep in touch" programs can mitigate the effects, the study concludes.

Members of Generation Z crashing the workforce with expectations that differ from those of millennial counterparts is only one factor disrupting the practice of HR, says Josh Bersin of Bersin by Deloitte. This roundup includes a snapshot of findings from Bersin's upcoming HR technology report, plus highlights from conversations about artificial intelligence, worker engagement and filling the onboarding gap.