Between rising labor costs, new tariffs, and ongoing supply chain issues, many employers, especially in retail, are facing a tough choice: raise prices or cut labor. But this year’s State of the Hourly Workforce data suggests there’s a better path. Workforce management, when done well, can improve margins without compromising service. By enabling better scheduling, smarter staffing, and targeted automation, employers leveraging intelligent tools can reduce labor costs, improve productivity, reduce attrition, and support the people doing the work.