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Breaking Job News: NASA's JPL Lays Off Hundreds, AI Confidence, & Small Business Optimism Sinks

• Pete Newsome

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The headlines say small business confidence is slipping, but that’s only half the story. The real crisis? Open jobs stay empty while talented people remain unemployed. 

In today's Breaking Job News, host Pete Newsome digs into the hidden costs of a broken hiring process and how forward-thinking leaders turn recruiting into their competitive advantage.

Next, we explore what automation really means for workers. A national robotics survey shows optimism about AI, but most people still think their own jobs are safe. We challenge that belief with a practical roadmap: how to experiment with AI, automate repetitive work, and build skills that matter in the next decade.

And finally, even NASA isn’t immune to realignment. With 550 layoffs at JPL, the message is clear: focus on what compounds value and be willing to pivot.

News Articles:
1. NFIB small business optimism index: https://www.nfib.com/news/press-release/new-nfib-survey-small-business-optimism-declines-in-september/
2. AI & Robotics Survey: https://www.robopgh.org/news/americans-see-promise-in-robotics-but-few-expect-their-own-jobs-to-change
3. NASA JPL layoff: https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/nasas-jet-propulsion-unit-lay-off-about-550-workers-2025-10-13/

💬 What’s your take? Is AI a job creator or a job killer? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petenewsome/
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Pete Newsome:

Today's job market headlines tell us how Americans think about robotics and AI and what's happening to the staff at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. But first, small business confidence is slipping again, which is worth paying attention to. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell two points in September, which is the first decline in three months. It's not a surprise that small business owners are concerned about inflation, supply chain issues, and overall economic uncertainty. It would be surprising if they weren't.

Pete Newsome:

But here's what I'm struggling with from the survey. 32% of all small business owners reported job openings they couldn't fill in September. And more than half who were surveyed, they have current openings, but 88% reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they're trying to fill. Think about that. It's almost impossible to believe. And this isn't some obscure survey, it's been running since 1973. The NFIB, which is the National Federation of Small Businesses, is massive. They have hundreds of thousands of members. And I'm just having an impossible time reconciling what's going on here. There's no reason to think the results are inaccurate. We have to assume they're legit.

Pete Newsome:

But here's what I can say with certainty: there's no good reason in this market to have positions going unfilled. Now, as a staffing company owner, I'm admittedly biased, but help is available for these companies. And I do know from experience small businesses are hesitant to use a third-party recruiter. They often have sticker shock with when they engage with a company like mine, but we don't work for free. I could talk all day long about the opportunity cost associated with carrying open jobs. I won't do it here, but odds are this is a classic example of being penny wise and pound foolish. I just can't come up with another reason why so many small businesses, almost all of them who took this survey, are saying they can't find candidates in a job market that is just flooded with great available candidates right now.

Pete Newsome:

And what they need to understand is division of labor exists for a reason. I could change the oil in my car, but I don't. I let a professional do it. And I could theoretically grow my own food, but I rely on experts who have the knowledge and means to do it infinitely more effectively and efficiently. So you get the point with that. If you're a small business that has open jobs, or if you're a large business that has open jobs right now in this market, you have no one to blame but yourself. And it is hurting your business every day, whether you realize it or not. It's just the way things work when you have positions that are unfilled.

Pete Newsome:

Your current staff's unhappy, your prospects aren't going to like working with you, it's going to cause customer service issues, lost revenue. It's just the reality. So this survey, all I could see was this 88% number of companies saying they can't fill open jobs right now. You can solve it. Just a single phone call to the right staff and company is all you need. So moving on from that, a new national survey shows that Americans are both hopeful and hesitant about the rise of robotics and AI. The Pittsburgh Robotics Network found that nearly half of Americans see robotics as a net positive for future jobs.

Pete Newsome:

Okay, so it's split. About half see it a good thing, half are worried about it, probably for good reason. But it seems that people recognize automation is reshaping the economy, but don't think it will affect them directly. Wow, that sounds like a lot of what we deal with in life. It's gonna happen to everyone else, but not to me. Here's what I found surprising 38% believe AI will have little to no impact on their jobs. Okay, AI is going to impact every job without exception, and only 10% believe AI will outright displace them. And I love the confidence, but only 10% believe that. More should probably be paying attention to this. And along those lines, only 57% who took the survey claim to even be familiar with AI.

Pete Newsome:

So to those people, I just wonder, what are you doing? Where are you? What are you spending your time on? And in the most shocking out of all, 9% believe AI is a fad. As if open AI and Chat GPT one day is just gonna go away, go away like parachute pants did when I was in middle school. Wow, that really dates me. But to think AI is a fad is just I can't even come up with a word for for that kind of thinking. But look, no one should stick their head in the sand when it comes to AI and robotics and everything that is changing. So for those of you who don't think your job is at risk, I hope it's not, but just make sure you're paying attention to where things are headed, not just where they are now. That will serve you very well as time goes by.

Pete Newsome:

And then in today's final headline, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is the legendary research hub behind every successful Mars rover, is cutting about 550 jobs as part of a major restructuring. The lab clarified that these layoffs aren't tied to the current government shutdown, but to a reorganization aimed at creating a leaner infrastructure and focusing on its core technical strengths. Director Dave Gallagher said the changes are essential to securing JPL's future. The Jet Propulsion Lab employs roughly 5,500 scientists, engineers, and contractors, so this reduction affects about 10% of its overall workforce.

Pete Newsome:

And they include technical, business, and support roles, which signals even elite research institutions and rocket scientists aren't safe from cost pressures and realignment and overall changes in the workplace. So while these layoffs are significant, and they certainly are to the individuals who are impacted, JPL says it's going to double down on its core space exploration programs, which remains central to NASA's long-term strategy. That is very good to see. The more space exploration, the better. That's something I think all of us can agree on. It's one of the few things I don't mind paying taxes for.

Pete Newsome:

So those are your headlines for today. But that brings us to today's fun fact. Walt Disney was fired from his first job at a newspaper for quote, lacking imagination. How about that? Walt Disney lacking imagination. So for anyone who's ever been underestimated or let go because someone didn't see your value, well, sometimes it can be the start of something great. Needless to say, in this case, it could be the start of something magical. So take it from Walt Disney. Don't let anyone destroy your dreams. Thank you for listening today. Please like, share, subscribe. I would appreciate that. And I always welcome your feedback. Thanks again. Look forward to talking to you tomorrow.