U.S. Employers Plan Hiring Surge in Second Half of 2026 Amid Persistent Talent Shortages — Express Services Inc.

Event summary

84% of U.S. hiring managers feel positive about their company's hiring outlook for the remainder of 2026, nearly unchanged from 85% in fall 2025.
60% of companies plan to increase headcount in H2 2026, down from 66% in fall 2025, with 19% planning significant increases.
44% of hiring managers report having open positions they cannot fill, up from 36% in fall 2025 and the highest since spring 2023.
Top reasons for hiring include increased workloads (53%), filling newly created positions (49%), and replacing turnover (42%).
32% of companies plan to maintain current staffing levels, while 7% plan to reduce employee count due to cost pressures and automation.

The big picture

The survey highlights a persistent mismatch between job openings and available talent, reflecting broader labor market trends. While employers remain optimistic about hiring, operational needs such as increased workloads and turnover are driving demand. The data suggests that companies are navigating a complex landscape of candidate shortages, technological changes, and economic uncertainty, which will shape workforce strategies in the coming months.

What we're watching

Talent Acquisition Challenges: How employers will adapt recruitment strategies to address persistent candidate shortages and evolving AI-driven hiring processes.
Economic Uncertainty: Whether recession concerns or policy changes will impact workforce planning and hiring decisions in the second half of 2026.
Automation Impact: The pace at which companies will balance automation with human labor, particularly in cost-sensitive industries.