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Contents
Q2
ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey
2026
GLOBAL FINDINGS
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Employer Hiring Sentiment
Outlooks by Vertical
About the Survey
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Experis Tech Talent Outlook Global Findings
Press Release
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This website and its materials contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding labor demand in certain regions, countries and industries, and economic uncertainty. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These factors include those found in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, whose information is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.
Forward-Looking Statements
The data for the second quarter was collected between January 1 and February 3, 2026, prior to geopolitical developments that began across the Middle East in late February. The findings reflect employer sentiment at the time of data collection and may not capture the potential impact of subsequent events. The size of organizations and sectors are standardized across all countries to allow international comparisons.
ManpowerGroup has introduced an updated industry sector classification to ensure our insights more closely reflect today’s global economy. Beginning with the Q1 2026 release, data will be reported across nine sectors: Construction & Real Estate; Finance & Insurance; Hospitality; Information; Manufacturing; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Public Sector, Health & Social Services; and Trade & Logistics. Historical data has been reclassified to maintain consistency over time, and national and regional results remain unchanged.
For more than six decades the survey has derived all of its information from a single question (Q2 2026 example):
“How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of June 2026 as compared to the current quarter?"
This sample allows for analysis to be performed across specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.
The survey is based on interviews with more than 41,000 public and private employers across 42 countries to measure anticipated employment trends each quarter.
The survey is conducted with a representative sample of employers from throughout the countries and territories in which it is conducted. The survey participants are not derived from ManpowerGroup’s customer base.
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, asking employers to forecast employment over the next quarter. In contrast, other surveys and studies focus on retrospective data to report on what occurred in the past.
It is unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus.
Survey Methodology
Focused
Robust
Independent
Unique
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook 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. Running since 1962, various factors underpin the success of the Survey:
About the Survey
Public Sector, Health & Social Services
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Utilities & Natural Resources
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Trade & Logistics
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Hospitality
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Manufacturing
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Construction & Real Estate
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Information
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Q1 2026
33%
Q4 2025
32%
Q3 2025
28%
Q2 2025
32%
Finance & Insurance
NEO
35%
+ Past Results
+ Past Results
Outlooks by Industry Vertical
India
68%
Strongest NEO
Australia
33%
Vietnam*
47%
39% NEO
+ 9
points QoQ
+ 9
points YoY
Asia Pacific
Hiring demand across the region is driven by employers in:
54%
Information
46%
Organizations with 5,000+ employees
U.A.E.*
60%
Strongest NEO
The Netherlands
37%
Sweden
39%
23% NEO
+ 3
points QoQ
+ 4
points YoY
Europe & Middle East
Hiring demand across the region is driven by employers in:
30%
Constructions & Real Estate
28%
Organizations with 250-999 employees
Brazil
55%
Strongest NEO
Panama
44%
Costa Rica
43%
Organizations with 250-999 employees
42%
Information
43%
Hiring demand across the region is driven by employers in:
points YoY
+ 8
points QoQ
+ 11
37% NEO
Americas
Asia Pacific
Europe & Middle East
Americas
Top Employment Outlooks by Region
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
The Q2 2026 Global Net Employment Outlook improved since the previous quarter (+6 points) and year-over-year (+7).
Changes Over Time
2%
Were Unsure
40%
Reported
No Change
13%
Anticipated a Decrease
45%
Anticipated an Increase
To understand the overall impact on hiring, referred to as the Net Employment Outlook (NEO), the percentage of employers expecting to decrease staffing levels is subtracted from those intending to increase hiring.
Net Employment Outlook Results
Q2 2026
Steady Workforce Levels Anticipated
of employers were unsure how staffing levels would change in the coming quarter.
2%
of employers planned to keep staffing levels unchanged from April through June.
40%
4%
Were Unsure
40%
Reported
No Change
The Equation
The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) measures the % difference between expected increases and decreases in staffing for the quarter.
What Sets It Apart
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the world’s most comprehensive and forward-looking employment survey, serving as a trusted labor market indicator since 1962.
What Is It?
shared whether their staffing levels would remain unchanged, increase through new hiring, or decrease due to layoffs or anticipated departures.
More than 41,000 employers
Understanding the Survey
Q2 Employer Hiring Sentiment
year-on-year (YoY)
+ 7
quarter-on-quarter (QoQ)
POINTS
as they forecast Q2 staffing changes in the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.
31%
countries reported a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook of
42
employers across
41,764
Executive Summary
-
=
%
%
NEO
Expected Staffing Increase
Expected Staffing Decrease
More than 4,600 Tech and IT Services’ employers across 42 countries were asked about their second quarter hiring intentions.
27%
26%
31%
29%
41%
Q2 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
31%
28%
23%
28%
34%
Q1 2025
Q2 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
33%
34%
32%
25%
33%
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Q2 2026
24%
23%
22%
25%
30%
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Q2 2026
25%
20%
31%
25%
22%
Q1 2025
Q2 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
22%
21%
21%
23%
33%
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Q2 2026
13%
16%
20%
22%
27%
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Q2 2026
22%
18%
15%
19%
24%
Q1 2025
Q3 2025
Q4 2025
Q1 2026
Q2 2026
NEO
41%
NEO
34%
NEO
33%
NEO
30%
NEO
22%
NEO
33%
NEO
27%
NEO
24%
View data from all 42 countries >
Employer Hiring Sentiment
Employer Hiring Sentiment
Global Employment Outlooks since the previous quarter
reported whether staffing levels will stay the same, increase through hiring, decrease due to layoffs, retirements, or contract endings, or if they’re unsure.
WHAT IS IT?
WHAT IS IT?
Unique
Independent
Robust
Focused
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35%
Q2 2026
Q2 2026
Q2 2026
Q2 2025
Q2 2025
Q2 2026
Q2 2025
Q2 2025
Q2 2025
*The NEOs for Chile, Puerto Rico, the U.A.E., and Vietnam are currently unadjusted and will be seasonally adjusted after sixteen quarters of data.
+ 6 POINTS
32%
Q2 2025
28%
Q3 2025
32%
Q4 2025
33%
Q1 2026
27%
Q2 2025
26%
Q3 2025
31%
Q4 2025
29%
Q1 2026
41%
FAQ
FAQ
+ 6
POINTS
FAQ