[13APR] Paper Cut - Weekly Employer Branding Headlines

This week on Paper Cut:

Google tops LinkedIn’s “Best Employers” list… while laying off staff. Microsoft’s doing the same. So is LinkedIn just measuring vibes now? Meanwhile, a Gen Z challenger emerges, AI continues its desk-clearing spree, and a wave of job market weirdness rolls through the US, UK, and China.

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🔗 Links From This Episode

🏆 Top Employers? Really?

• LinkedIn’s top employers list 2025:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/10/linkedins-best-companies-to-work-for-in-2025.html

• Google lays off hundreds in Pixel and Android teams:

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/google-lays-hundreds-employees-android-pixel-group-information-reports-5059236

• Microsoft mulls more job cuts targeting non-coders:

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-mulls-more-job-cuts-managers-non-coders-2025-4

• Microsoft fires engineers protesting layoffs:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/microsoft-fires-engineers-who-protested-during-anniversary-celebration.html

• Google allegedly pays AI hires to “do nothing”:

https://wccftech.com/google-paying-ai-workers-a-year-salary-for-doing-nothing/

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📱 A Gen Z Challenger to LinkedIn

• Students launch AI-driven LinkedIn rival:

https://www.businessinsider.com/pitch-deck-series-gen-z-professional-network-ai-texting-2025-4

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🤖 AI Is Still Coming for Jobs

• Shopify CEO: Prove AI can’t do your job:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/shopify-ceo-prove-ai-cant-do-jobs-before-asking-for-more-headcount.html

• AI likely to replace these 3 professions:

https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/ai-is-most-likely-to-replace-these-3-professions-ai-experts/489655

• Jobs most at risk over next 20 years:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/these-jobs-are-at-risk-of-disappearing-in-the-next-20-years-ai-experts-say.html

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🇨🇳 The China Slowdown Begins?

• Some Chinese companies quietly reducing workloads:

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/in-china-whispers-of-change-as-some-companies-tell-staff-to-work-less

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💼 Signals From the Global Talent Market

• “People-first” HR gaining traction:

https://www.hrdive.com/news/people-first-hr-2025/744922/

• US employee confidence creeps upward (barely):

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