Policy decisions made in Washington rarely stay confined to Capitol Hill. Increasingly, they’re shaping how employers hire, compete for talent, and manage recruiting budgets.
At UNLEASH America 2026, Appcast Chief Economist Andrew Flowers will unpack that connection in a data-driven session examining how federal policy shifts—from immigration rules to tariffs—are reshaping the U.S. talent market.
The session, titled “Policy Shocks & Talent Markets: How Washington’s Moves Are Shaping Recruiting,” will take place on Wednesday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. PDT at the Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. Drawing on Appcast’s proprietary Recruitonomics research and broader labor market data, Flowers will explore how macroeconomic and policy developments are translating into real-world hiring challenges for employers.
The timing reflects a growing concern among HR and talent acquisition leaders: recruiting is becoming slower and more expensive, even in the absence of a major economic downturn.
Policy Changes Are Reshaping Talent Supply
A central theme of the session will be how federal policies are influencing labor supply dynamics.
Immigration policy changes, in particular, are expected to be a major focus. According to Appcast’s research, shifts in immigration rules are narrowing available labor pools in certain industries, intensifying competition among employers and putting upward pressure on wages.
For organizations that rely heavily on international talent or immigrant labor, these changes can ripple through recruiting strategies—forcing companies to rethink sourcing channels, hiring timelines, and compensation benchmarks.
Flowers will also address the broader macroeconomic environment, including the impact of trade policy, tariffs, and inflation on hiring costs.
These policy factors, combined with lingering economic uncertainty, are contributing to rising cost-per-applicant metrics, a key performance indicator in recruiting operations.
Recruiting Costs Continue to Climb
One of the more striking labor market trends emerging over the past year is that recruiting expenses are increasing even without a recession-driven labor contraction.
According to Appcast’s Recruitonomics data, talent acquisition teams are facing:
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Higher advertising and sourcing costs
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Longer hiring cycles
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Increased wage competition across industries
Together, those forces are reshaping how employers approach hiring strategy.
Flowers’ session will break down the data behind these trends and explain why recruiting inefficiencies and policy shocks are pushing costs upward—even in a relatively stable labor market.
Turning Policy Shifts Into Recruiting Strategy
Beyond analyzing the data, the presentation will also focus on how talent acquisition teams can respond to the changing environment.
Among the strategic adjustments Flowers will highlight:
More frequent wage benchmarking. As labor supply tightens and wage pressure rises, companies may need to revisit compensation data more often to stay competitive.
Refined sourcing strategies. Employers may need to diversify job advertising channels and rethink how they target candidate pools in response to labor market disruptions.
Streamlined application processes. Reducing friction in the hiring funnel can help offset rising cost-per-applicant metrics and improve candidate conversion rates.
Labor supply mitigation strategies. Organizations may need to explore new geographic talent pools, remote hiring models, or automation initiatives to counter labor shortages.
The broader message is that policy changes are no longer abstract economic variables—they’re operational challenges for recruiting teams.
A Data-Driven Look at the Labor Market
Flowers brings a research-heavy perspective to the discussion.
As Chief Economist at Appcast, he also serves as the Director of Research for Recruitonomics, an insights hub that analyzes recruiting and labor market trends using data from millions of job applications and hiring interactions.
Flowers leads a team of economists and analysts who produce research aimed at helping business leaders navigate an increasingly volatile labor market.
Over the past decade and a half, he has authored more than 50 economic research reports and has become a widely cited expert on labor economics and macroeconomic policy.
His insights regularly appear in major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NPR’s Marketplace, and Business Insider.
Why the Session Matters for HR Leaders
For HR and talent acquisition professionals attending UNLEASH America, the session offers a chance to connect the dots between policy decisions and day-to-day recruiting realities.
Immigration reforms, tax policy shifts, and trade regulations may seem distant from the hiring process. But their downstream effects—from wage inflation to shrinking talent pools—are increasingly shaping how organizations compete for talent.
As economic policy continues to evolve, employers will need a clearer understanding of how those shifts affect recruiting performance metrics and workforce strategy.
Flowers’ presentation aims to provide that clarity—translating complex policy developments into practical insights that hiring leaders can use to adapt.
Session Details
Session Title: Policy Shocks & Talent Markets: How Washington’s Moves Are Shaping Recruiting
Speaker: Andrew Flowers, Chief Economist, Appcast
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Time: 11:00 – 11:25 a.m. PDT
Location: Stage 4 | Room 106, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas
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