ManpowerGroup(US:MAN) Prnewswire·2026-03-10 13:32Core Insights - Global hiring intentions are strengthening, with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 31% for Q2 2026, marking the highest level since Q3 2022, up six points from the previous quarter and seven points year-over-year [1][2] - 45% of organizations plan to increase staff in Q2 2026, while 40% intend to maintain current headcount, and only 13% anticipate reductions, indicating a positive shift in employer sentiment [1][2] - AI is significantly impacting employee upskilling, with 27% of employers reporting the highest ROI in Learning & Development, compared to 9% in Talent Acquisition [1][2] Hiring Intentions - Employers in Information (41%) and Finance & Insurance (35%) report the most optimistic hiring plans for Q2 2026, while Hospitality (22%) shows the most cautious intentions [1][2] - The Americas have a strong regional Outlook at 37%, with Brazil (55%) leading confidence, followed by Panama (44%) and Costa Rica (43%) [1][2] - Asia Pacific leads globally with an Outlook of 39%, with India (68%) showing the highest regional confidence, followed by Vietnam (47%) and Australia (33%) [1][2] AI Adoption and Workforce Strategy - Two-thirds of organizations (67%) are using AI in hiring, onboarding, or training, with adoption rising to 80% in Asia Pacific [1][2] - Learning and development yield the highest perceived ROI from AI, but only 8% of employers feel AI fully meets expectations in hiring and training [1][2] - Barriers to broader AI deployment include privacy concerns (13%), insufficient training (10%), and lack of AI skills among workers (10%) [1][2] Regional Highlights - Europe and the Middle East report the lowest global Outlook at 23%, with the United Arab Emirates (60%) leading the region [1][2] - Hong Kong (11%) shows the most cautious Outlook in Asia Pacific, while Colombia (18%) reflects the lowest confidence in the Americas [1][2] - Romania (-5%) and Slovakia (3%) report the weakest Outlooks globally this quarter [1][2]