Global Tech Hiring Outlook Falls 7 Points to 35%, AI Skills Top Demand
MAN•ManpowerGroup’s Experis unit reports Q3 2026 global tech Net Employment Outlook at 35%, down seven points from Q2 and one point YoY, with half of employers planning staff additions. AI Modeling & App Development tops technical demand at 34%, while communication leads human skill needs at 41%.
1. Q3 Tech Hiring Outlook
ManpowerGroup’s Experis division reports a Q3 2026 global Net Employment Outlook of 35%, representing a seven-point QoQ decline and a one-point YoY drop, with 50% of surveyed tech employers planning to expand headcount while 33% expect to maintain current staffing.
2. Technical and Human Skills Demand
AI Modeling & App Development leads technical skill demand at 34%, followed by AI literacy at 30% and traditional IT & data skills at 29%, while communication skills are prioritized by 41% of employers, alongside professionalism (37%) and adaptability (34%).
3. Employer Responses to Talent Shortages
To address ongoing talent shortages, 95% of organizations are deploying strategies such as upskilling and reskilling current staff (30%), offering greater location flexibility (24%), and raising wages (22%) to attract and retain tech professionals.
4. Regional Outlook Variations
Regional data reveals Puerto Rico’s Q3 NEO at 68% tops the chart, with the United States at 47%, Brazil at 53%, the UK at 51%, while weaker outlooks appear in Hong Kong (-10%), Romania (-11%) and Slovakia (-10%).
