Employers Report Steady Hiring Plans for Q3, Though Uncertainty Around Global Trade Led Many to Pause Hiring Decisions

• 89% of companies worldwide report that trade uncertainty impacted their immediate hiring decisions in April, though most plan for steady hiring in Q3

• Employers in Asia Pacific (29%) lead regional hiring intentions, followed by the Americas (27%), and Europe and the Middle East (19%)

• Information Technology maintains strongest sector Outlook at 36%, followed by Financials & Real Estate (28%), and Industrials & Materials (26%)

• Companies that are investing the most in technology report more optimistic hiring plans than those that do not plan tech investments

Employers worldwide demonstrate resilient hiring intentions for Q3 amidst shifting global trade dynamics according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. The report is based on responses from over 40,600 employers across 42 countries—the global Net Employment Outlook (NEO) stands at +24%, down just one point from last quarter and up two points year-over-year. Companies investing most in technology, AI, and automation report the most optimistic hiring plans, showing a clear link between innovation and confidence. Overall, 40% of employers expect to increase hiring, 42% plan to maintain current staff levels, 16% anticipate cuts, and 2% are unsure.

Used internationally as a bellwether of labor market trends, the NEO is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions in staffing levels from those who plan to hire.

EMPLOYERS NAVIGATE TRADE UNCERTAINTY WITH TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENTS

Global trade volatility has emerged as a defining factor in workforce planning, with 89% of companies globally, and more than 80% of employers across 41 countries from Argentina to the U.S., reporting that the changing trade situation impacted their hiring decisions in the Spring.

“Trade uncertainty added to already cooling labor markets, prompting some companies to pause or slow hiring plans,” said Jonas Prising, ManpowerGroup Chair & CEO. “However, this new data shows that, for now, hiring Outlooks have stabilized. Employers are moving ahead with Q3 plans focused on attracting specialist skills and investing in AI that enhances human potential. Still, caution remains high—and if conditions become more unsettled, we can expect employers to adapt accordingly.”

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OTHER Q3 KEY FINDINGS

• Strongest hiring plans reported in United Arab Emirates (48%), India (42%), and Costa Rica (41%), while Argentina (3%), Hungary (5%), and Romania (6%) report the most cautious Outlooks.
• Company expansion (37%) remains the top reason for staffing increases, while adapting to economic environment (34%) leads factors behind workforce adjustments.
• Size aligns with hiring optimism, as larger organizations show stronger confidence: companies with 1,000-4,999 employees report 29% Outlook, while smaller firms with fewer than 50 employees show more cautious 16% Outlook.

GLOBAL HIRING PLANS BY REGION

Asia Pacific (APAC): Leading globally with an Outlook of 29%, with modest improvements year-over-year.

• India (42%) leads regional confidence, ranking second globally, while China (28%) and Singapore (24%) continue to show solid hiring intentions.
• Hong Kong (8%) and Japan (15%) remain more cautious.

The Americas: The region reports the second strongest Outlook at 27%, hiring intentions weakening 7 points quarter-over-quarter.

• Costa Rica (41%) and Brazil (33%) report the strongest regional hiring intentions.
• Argentina continues to face challenges with the weakest global Outlook at 3%.

Europe and the Middle East: Hiring expectations remain lowest at 19%, though showing gradual improvement from previous periods.

• The United Arab Emirates (48%) tops global rankings in its first survey participation, with the Netherlands (30%) and Ireland (29%) also reporting robust Outlooks.
• Several countries show year-over-year improvements, including Israel (+13 points) and Sweden (+12 points).

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