Why Are So Many Payroll Pros Open to Work?

Why Are So Many Payroll Pros Open to Work?

From It's About Payroll by WRKdefined

March 30, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

Brian and Walt discuss the trend of payroll professionals being open to work amidst a changing labor market and the impact of automation on the profession.

In Episode 202 of It’s About Payroll, Brian and Walt unpack a growing trend they are seeing across the profession: more HR and payroll professionals publicly sharing that they are open to work. They connect that observation to a softer 2026 labor market, slower hiring, longer job searches, and the pressure companies are feeling to stay lean. The conversation explores how payroll teams are being asked to do more with fewer people, why some senior professionals may be more vulnerable in tighter markets, and how automation is changing payroll roles without eliminating the work itself. The episode also dives into what makes payroll professionals more marketable today, including education, certifications, multi-state compliance knowledge, and a willingness to learn how AI can support the job. Brian and Walt also share the thinking behind PayQuest, their app designed to reduce spreadsheet chaos, improve accountability, and create cleaner audit trails for payroll-related payment requests. Listeners will walk away with perspective on the payroll job market, the future of the profession, and practical ideas for staying relevant in a changing environment.

People in this episode

Hosts: Brian, Walt

Topics covered

  • payroll professionals
  • job market trends
  • automation in payroll
  • HR challenges
  • marketability of payroll professionals

Keywords

  • payroll
  • HR
  • job search
  • automation
  • marketability
  • certifications
  • AI

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PayQuest

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