Global – September 11, 2026 -- ManpowerGroup's Q4 2026 Employment Outlook Survey shows 43% of employers worldwide plan to increase staffing between October and December, against 14% anticipating cuts and 41% expecting no change, with soft economic conditions rather than AI cited as the main driver behind reductions.
Nearly two-thirds of hiring employers cite changing roles over expansion
Among employers adding staff, 62% point to changing roles and skills -- including new expertise demanded by advancing technology and shifts in service requirements -- as the primary reason. Company expansion remains the single largest driver at 39%, followed by advancing technology at 21%, skills shifts at 16%, and backfilling at 32%.
Entry-level hiring rises despite automation concerns
Across every industry surveyed, 45% of employers report increasing entry-level hiring compared with 2025, versus 20% pulling back. Where employers are reducing early-career hiring, cost pressure and lack of experience outweigh AI as the stated cause.
AI adoption in recruitment has not yet consistently sped up hiring
Despite broader AI use in recruitment processes, 28% of employers report faster time-to-hire versus 2025, while 41% say it is unchanged and 30% report it has slowed.
Construction, Real Estate and Finance lead sector hiring intentions
Construction & Real Estate and Finance & Insurance report the strongest Q4 2026 hiring outlook at 36%, followed by Information at 35%. Construction & Real Estate posted the largest year-over-year gain among sectors, up 13 points.
Americas post the strongest regional outlook, led by Brazil
The Americas region reports a 36% Net Employment Outlook, up two points quarter-over-quarter and 11 points year-over-year. Brazil leads at 53%, followed by Panama at 49%, Mexico at 41% and the United States at 36%; Panama recorded the largest year-over-year improvement globally, up 26 points.
India tops global hiring intentions among 42 countries surveyed
Asia Pacific posts a 34% NEO, up six points quarter-over-quarter and three points year-over-year, with India leading all surveyed countries at 54%, followed by Vietnam at 36% and China at 34%. Europe and the Middle East report a 22% NEO, led regionally by the United Arab Emirates at 41%, Sweden at 39% and Israel at 34%; among the region's largest economies, the United Kingdom leads at 23%, ahead of Germany at 15% and France at 13%.
The survey drew responses from 39,878 public and private employers across 42 countries, collected between July 1-31, 2026. The next survey, covering Q1 2027, will be released in December 2026.