STARTUPS CENTRAL

Many recent graduates are discovering that a college diploma still opens doors, but rarely closes the deal by itself. Employers are increasingly favoring applicants who can prove practical familiarity with machine learning tools and automation, and in several cases would rather rely on software than on an untrained new hire. That shift is reshaping hiring priorities across industries.

A private-equity backed operator that ran Hardee’s outlets in nine states closed all of its units in December and this week moved to liquidate its business, leaving roughly 1,600 workers jobless. ARC Burger listed itself in court on Monday under Chapter 7, saying its obligations fall somewhere between $10 million and $50 million and that unsecured creditors should not expect recoveries. The filings follow the company’s abrupt December shutdown of 77 Hardee’s locations, a move