Our 2026 Career Exploration Hiring Match Events are now live!
Experience pepelwerk and the future of hiring.
🏆2025’s Topic of the Year: AI
Ladies and gentlemen, organizations and hiring managers, welcome to the end-of-year ceremony you didn’t know you were attending. Please take your seats, grab your coffee and direct your attention to the stage as we present 2025’s Topic of the Year: AI, the trend that dominated headlines, team meetings, strategy decks and every “quick sync” that somehow lasted 45 minutes.
This decision was an easy one but AI didn’t win because it replaced people. It won because it changed the environment we all work in. It forced companies to rethink what skills matter, what roles actually require a human touch and how fast talent needs to move to keep up. In that shift, something became very clear, the organizations that understand their people the best will lead in 2026.
That’s exactly where pepelwerk comes in. While the world tried to figure out how to “keep up” with AI, we focused on helping businesses get ahead of it. We give you visibility into the skills you already have, the gaps that could slow you down and the pipeline of talent that can grow with you. Instead of guessing who can do the job, you get clarity. Instead of traditional hiring roadblocks, you get real skill alignment and AI powered matching that actually works with, not against, your team.
So as we step into a new year, think of this as your acceptance speech moment. You get to decide whether 2026 is another year of scrambling to hire… or the year you build a workforce that’s ready for the future.
The Rise of AI Agents:
Your Workforce’s New Co-Pilot
If AI took home “Topic of the Year,” then AI Agents are the headliners of 2026. But not in the scary, sci-fi way people feared. Think of them as the coworkers who don’t sleep, don’t forget, don’t play favorites and don’t have 400 tabs open trying to figure out their next career move.
AI Agents are stepping into the workplace as guides — not replacements.
They help employees understand their strengths, explore career paths and see opportunities that match their skills, not their job titles. And for organizations, they reveal the talent gaps, skill patterns and workforce trends you need to stay competitive.
pepelwerk’s AI Career Assistant turns all of this into something your organization can actually use. Powered by verified skills and real workforce data, it gives every person a personalized career experience and gives employers the clarity they’ve been missing. It’s a smarter way to support your people and a more strategic way to plan for the future.
From AI Guidance to Real-World Opportunities
But here’s the magic: exploration only matters if it leads somewhere.
That’s why pepelwerk ties the digital experience to real, high-impact opportunities through:
• Career Exploration Events: where emerging talent can see real pathways and connect directly with companies.
• Hiring Match Events: where employers meet candidates whose skills actually match the work — verified, aligned and ready.
AI Agents help people understand where they can go. Our events help them actually get there. And together, they make workforce development feel a lot less chaotic and a lot more intentional.
Ready for the next step?
Season of Giving: Sponsor Opportunities That Shape the Future
The holidays are a reminder that giving back is transformative. When organizations choose to sponsor career and technology development, they’re opening doors for people who need real pathways into the workforce. Through pepelwerk’s Sponsor Module, you can directly support schools, nonprofits and community programs while ensuring every dollar creates measurable impact.
Unlike traditional funding models where most of the money disappears into administrative layers, pepelwerk channels your investment straight into preparing people for work. You’ll see exactly where your support goes with 24-hour accountability, real-time dashboards and data that tracks the full lifecycle of your contribution, from distribution to career outcomes. You’ll know who benefited, what skills they gained and how many people secured real jobs because of your sponsorship. With pepelwerk there is no wasted time and wonder but true results you can stand behind.
This season is the perfect moment to turn generosity into opportunity. Whether you launch a “Sponsor a Skill” challenge, a matching gift campaign or simply choose a community to uplift, pepelwerk helps amplify your impact and ensures your support becomes part of someone’s success story.
Your Workforce Strategy Stack
1: Meet Your End of Year Goals with an AI Agent That Works For You
Summary: Year-end chaos doesn’t have to feel chaotic. This blog breaks down how a customizable AI agent can help leaders find skill gaps, reassign work internally and plan for 2026 with confidence. If you’re tired of guessing which priorities matter most, this is your shortcut to a smarter, clearer finish to the year.
2: Save Money in 2026 with AI-Powered Hiring Events
Summary: As budgets shrink and expectations rise, companies need a hiring strategy that won’t send costs spiraling. This blog explores how AI-driven workforce matching cuts waste, streamlines recruiting and brings in talent that aligns with job requirements from the start. For organizations planning their 2026 workforce, this is your competitive edge.
3: The New Way to Plan for Your Workforce Needs in 2026
Summary: 2026 is calling for a new playbook. This blog shows how Match Events help employers meet job-ready candidates, understand their skill landscape and make hiring decisions grounded in data, not résumé roulette. If you’re tired of planning your workforce in the dark, start here.