Originally Posted by FangsF15

Well, 3% of 17250 is 517, plus 516 scheduled retirements in 2026 (aka "attrition"). Add in a handful of early retirements, and you are looking at 1050-1100 hired with 3% growth.

Hiring 1800 would require ~1300 above attrition, which would mean ~7.5% growth. I don't think anyone seriously thinks we will grow 7.5%.

On the high side, I'd say 4% would be max, and that would result in a total of ~1200 hired in '26.