Great‑Hesitation Hiring Pause

European employers are showing a measurable, cross‑sector pause in hiring driven jointly by a small but economically meaningful GDP growth slowdown and accelerated AI adoption that increases employer and worker risk aversion. The combination produces fewer vacancies, rising unemployment projections in key countries, and behavioral changes like 'Career Cushioning' where workers avoid job moves while firms delay open roles. — If sustained, the Great‑Hesitation will reshape 2026 labor markets, fiscal policy needs, migration calculus, and how governments manage AI‑driven structural change.