U.S. Manufacturing Is Adding Jobs Again, but the Hiring Rules Have Changed
The Wall Street Journal · Oct. 26, 2026
Manufacturing employment is growing again, but automation is shifting demand away from traditional production jobs and toward engineers, analysts, managers, and skilled technicians—raising the stakes for workforce training..
ANMP Insights
84% support expanding apprenticeship programs where young people earn a salary while learning skilled trades and professions. (link)
82% support tax incentives for businesses that create apprenticeship positions combining on-the-job training with classroom education. (link)
61% support reducing the cultural emphasis on four-year college degrees compared with other pathways. (link)
Kraft Heinz, Ralph Lauren among large employers suing UnitedHealth over alleged improper claim approvals
Becker’s Payer Issues · Oct. 27, 2026
Six large self-insured employers allege UnitedHealth improperly paid false, fraudulent or inflated medical claims, favored affiliated providers, and charged undisclosed fees while administering their employee health plans. UnitedHealth strongly disputes the allegations and says it will defend itself.
ANMP Insights
58% say insurance companies bear more responsibility for rising health-insurance premiums. (link)
53% say insurance companies bear more responsibility for rising out-of-pocket costs. (link)
34% name health insurance companies as the part of the healthcare system most in need of fixing. (link)
U.S. Home Price Growth Kept Climbing in August
The Wall Street Journal · Oct. 27, 2026
Home-price growth accelerated again in August while mortgage rates remained high, keeping affordability difficult even as real home prices continued to lag inflation.s.
ANMP Insights
76% said housing costs were moving in the wrong direction, nearly tied with healthcare costs and behind only groceries among the economic pain points tested. (link)
27% ranked housing costs among the two economic indicators that matter most personally—third behind groceries and healthcare. (link)
In separate ANMP open-ended affordability research, 63% mentioned inflation and essential costs, while 43% said they needed to see visible cost reductions before believing leaders were improving affordability. (link)