In this episode of The Learning & Development Podcast, David James is joined by Nick Jones of Blue Eskimo to discuss the state of the industry following the launch of the 2026 Blue Eskimo Work & Salary Report. Nick dives into the current market reality, exploring what is actually happening on the ground and how global shifts are impacting the jobs market.
The conversation addresses the significant rise in redundancies and identifies which specific roles are being hit hardest as organisations restructure. They look at the disconnect between "strategic" job descriptions and the "hands-on" reality of recruitment, while tackling the question of whether AI is truly replacing jobs or simply forcing the profession to evolve. They look into why many L&D professionals are currently finding themselves unprepared for the job market, the increasing importance of personal branding, and the specific skills needed to remain accountable and valued in 2026.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
AI, budget cuts, and team bloat correction have had an impact. Globally, redundancies are high - but there are signs of recovery.
Now, your personal brand really matters.
Showcase the fact you operate as a commercial partner and impact the bottom line.
Make it easy for hiring managers and stakeholders to understand the value you create and the problems you solve.
Treat your CV and profile as live sales tools: show the strategic impact you’ve had, not just tasks you’ve completed.
Stay ready, continually refresh them - so opportunities find you before you need them. - Nick explains exactly how to do this.
Your next move will come more from your network and recruiters, than from job boards - show up where hiring managers actually look.
BEST MOMENTS
“Redundancies are … through the roof.”
“The skills that are perhaps most in demand … are sales skills, marketing skills - stakeholder engagement skills.”
“Everybody should have some semblance of a personal brand.”
“They can't hold back on projects and expenditure for too long - businesses still need to deliver.”
Nick Jones Bio
Nick Jones is the owner and director of Blue Eskimo, the UK’s leading recruitment specialist for the learning and development and learning technology sectors. With a career rooted in L&D at firms like Qa LTD and Informatics Ctec, Nick earned an MBA from Aston University and co-founded Blue Eskimo to provide targeted talent solutions for the training industry. He is a recognised expert on L&D salary trends, the impact of Generative AI on the workforce and the evolving skills required for modern learning professionals.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjonesblueeskimo/
2026 Blue Eskimo Work & Salary Report: https://www.blueeskimo.com/resources/downloads/2026-ld-work-and-salary-report-blue-eskimo
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-learning-development-podcast/id1466927523
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home
ABOUT THE HOST
David James
David has been a People Development professional for more than 20 years, most notably as Director of Talent, Learning & OD for The Walt Disney Company across Europe, the Middle East & Africa.
As well as being the Chief Learning Officer at 360Learning, David is a prominent writer and speaker on topics around modern and digital L&D.
CONTACT METHOD
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidinlearning
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjameslinkedin
L&D Collective: https://360learning.com/the-l-and-d-collective
Blog: https://360learning.com/blog
L&D Master Class Series: https://360learning.com/blog/l-and-d-masterclass-home
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
