Some people love December for the candy canes or excuses to watch Love, Actually or drink egg nog. Me, too — but I also live for the December look backs and predictions for the next year.

Here are five big ways I think things are going to shift in 2026 and beyond:

1. Attrition

Attrition — in other words, gradual decline — is everywhere you look these days. I’m predicting slow but steady reduction will be the vibe in 2026. For example, this recent New York Times piece about Intel’s shrinking workforce:

Intel, the ailing semiconductor giant, said on Thursday that it expected its work force to shrink by more than 25,000 employees …The chipmaker, which reported 108,900 employees at the end of last year, said it now expected layoffs, attrition and other actions to reduce its head count

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