Global employers are entering 2026 with a resilient yet cautious hiring approach, as the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey shows a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 24% for the first quarter. While down 4% year-over-year, the figure marks a 4% increase from the previous quarter, signaling stability amid evolving economic conditions.
The survey of over 39,000 employers across 41 countries highlights a labor market that continues to prioritize human talent despite economic headwinds. Forty percent of organizations intend to grow their workforce in Q1 2026, matching the percentage planning to maintain current levels. Only 19% of new hires will backfill recent departures, indicating a strategic shift toward role evolution rather than simple replacement.
Employers expanding teams cite organizational growth as the primary motivator (37%), followed by investment in new business areas (26%). This reflects a deliberate focus on capabilities needed for future competitiveness. In contrast, organizations reducing staff primarily point to economic challenges (29%), reduced demand due to market changes (24%), and alignment with current business volume (22%). Notably, only 20% attribute cutbacks to automation, confirming that macroeconomic factors remain the dominant influence on workforce planning.
“What we're seeing is employers responding to the economic signals with a measured and deliberate approach. Over the past nine quarters, the global Outlook has averaged 24%, reflecting a labor market that remains resilient even as the broader economic environment continues to evolve. Hiring is steady because organizations still need human skills to grow, but they are being very intentional about where they invest in additional talent,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chair & CEO.
Hiring optimism varies significantly by sector and company size. Finance & Insurance leads with a 32% outlook, followed closely by the Information sector (29%) and Construction & Real Estate (27%). More cautious sentiments appear in the Public Sector, Health & Social Services (20%), Utilities & Natural Resources (22%), and Trade & Logistics (23%).
Mid-sized organizations (250–999 employees) demonstrate the strongest confidence at 28%, while the largest enterprises with 5,000+ employees report the weakest outlook at 21% — a notable 25% decline year-over-year.
Asia Pacific continues to lead globally with a 30% outlook, unchanged quarter-over-quarter and up three points year-over-year. India (52%) remains a standout, while Brazil (54%) claims the top spot worldwide.
The Americas follow with a 26% outlook, supported by strong confidence in Brazil, Guatemala (28%), and the U.S. (27%). In Europe and the Middle East, the outlook sits at 20%, with the United Arab Emirates (46%), Netherlands (36%), and Ireland (31%) showing the most optimism.
As organizations navigate economic uncertainty heading into 2026, hiring remains intentional and growth-oriented in resilient sectors and regions, underpinned by the ongoing need for skilled human talent.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, now in its 63rd year, is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key labor market indicator. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2025 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th time; all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
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