Businesses entering 2026 are grappling with deepening skills gaps and heightened hiring challenges, according to Robert Half's latest research based on a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. hiring managers. Nearly two-thirds (62%) report that skills shortages are more severe than a year ago, with only 6% stating they have sufficient talent to deliver on high-priority projects.
Quick Intel
Robert Half's research highlights persistent and intensifying talent shortages across critical business functions as organizations navigate 2026. With skills gaps expanding in key disciplines, employers face significant obstacles in executing high-priority initiatives.
The most pronounced shortages appear in specialized areas: only 1% of managers in legal roles report having adequate talent, followed by 4% in marketing and creative, 6% in finance and accounting, and 7% each in healthcare, human resources, and technology. Administrative and customer support roles fare slightly better at 12%, but overall, the data underscores widespread challenges in securing skilled professionals.
Despite these hurdles, business confidence remains robust. Eighty-three percent of hiring managers express optimism about the year ahead, including 43% who anticipate strong company growth. To address immediate and strategic needs, 60% plan to hire permanent employees in the first half of 2026, while 55% intend to expand contract staffing for greater agility.
Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half, said: "As skills gaps continue to widen, employers aren't standing still. Organizations are leaning into a mix of permanent and contract hiring to close critical gaps, stay agile and keep priority initiatives moving forward."
The hiring landscape itself has grown more complex with the proliferation of generative AI. Sixty-five percent of managers note that AI-generated applications have made recruiting more difficult, and 58% report increased challenges in distinguishing genuinely qualified candidates from those with enhanced but unrepresentative submissions. This trend forces employers to invest additional time in verification, raising the risk of mismatched hires and underscoring the need for trusted evaluation partners.
Dawn Fay added: "Generative AI has changed how employers evaluate talent. When applications appear strong on the surface but don't always reflect real capabilities, it becomes much harder to assess skills and make confident hiring decisions. More organizations are increasingly relying on partners who can rigorously evaluate talent and help them hire with greater certainty."
These insights point to a 2026 job market where strategic talent acquisition—balancing speed, quality, and adaptability—will be essential for maintaining momentum amid evolving technological and workforce dynamics.
About the research
The research was gathered from a survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in November 2025. The survey contains responses from more than 2,000 hiring managers in the United States.
About Robert Half
Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune® Most Admired Companies™ and 100 Best Companies to Work For.
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