Hiring & pay signals: Peoria-area employers are advertising six-figure roles, including Caterpillar’s marketing manager ($159k–$239k) and NRG’s maintenance supervisor/planner ($106k–$159k), pointing to selective demand for experienced operators. Workforce development gap: A multistate CTE review finds enrollment up 10% since 2022, but a $230M federal funding shortfall (inflation-driven) plus teacher shortages and outdated curricula are holding programs back—states like Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Washington are cited as models. Education staffing pressure: South Dakota is exploring alternatives to teacher licensing exams as rural and tribal districts report much higher vacancies, with concerns that exam barriers are blocking culturally aligned candidates. AI hiring tools under scrutiny: PsyMetrics launched “AI Test Architect” to build role-specific psychometric assessments and reduce bias risks from generic AI recruiting tools. Robotaxi regulation fight: Uber’s lobbying push for a hybrid robotaxi rule in Washington, D.C. puts it on a collision course with Waymo, raising questions for driver jobs and city policy. Local jobs & public safety: Jersey City’s budget debate spotlights public safety funding as a foundation for neighborhood stability and business investment. New facilities, new roles: Zelio E-Mobility opened a Coimbatore plant (60,000 units/year capacity) to ramp scooter production for southern markets, while an Imías solar-powered community center is set to create 39 jobs.