Disney has agreed to hire more than 60 employees from Character.AI as part of a deal valued at approximately $180 million over three years, plus $30…
Funding & M&A · 15h ago · United States
Staffing industry news: October 18, 2026
The day's market snapshot and 3 stories.
Market snapshot
- Disney is acquiring more than 60 Character.AI employees in a deal worth approximately $210 million, underscoring that AI talent commands premium valuations even in bankruptcy scenarios.
- Oracle led 2026 tech layoffs with 21,000 positions cut, part of 131,382 total tech job eliminations across 314 companies, with AI-driven restructuring cited as a primary driver.
- Louisiana is consolidating its 15 workforce development boards under a single state authority ahead of major hiring waves tied to Meta's $50 billion data center campus and a new Hyundai Steel mill expected to create 1,300 permanent jobs averaging $95,000.
Stories from this day
Louisiana is consolidating governance of its 15 local workforce development boards under a single state authority beginning in early 2027, following a…
Top Intelligence · 27h ago · United States
The FAA and National Air Traffic Controllers Association reached a pay agreement giving controllers a 2.8% raise effective October 18, retroactive to…
Salary Reports · 21h ago · United States