New Delhi, June 9 (IANS). 60 percent of employers in India plan to make new hires in the third quarter of 2026 (July-September period), while 29 percent plan to maintain existing staff levels. This information was given in the report released on Tuesday.
According to ManpowerGroup report, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) in the July-September period stood at 48 percent, which is the highest globally.
The report further said that 11 percent of employers are planning to cut jobs in the review period, while one percent of employers are unsure about hiring plans.
Sandeep Gulati, managing director, ManpowerGroup India and Middle East, said, “India’s hiring outlook for Q3 2026 remains the strongest globally. This shows that despite the tough business environment, investors remain confident in the country’s growth momentum.”
He said that the decrease compared to the previous quarter does not reflect a decline in business confidence, but a more careful and thoughtful approach to recruitment.
He further said that tremendous activity in the manufacturing and services sectors and the continuous expansion of Global Capability Centers are maintaining the demand for jobs.
At the same time, employers are facing challenges such as AI-based workforce optimization, reduced demand for entry-level hiring, global trade uncertainty and geopolitical developments that are impacting supply chains and business costs.
Sector-wise, recruitment expectations weakened on a quarterly basis in eight out of nine sectors included in the survey.
The trade and logistics sector recorded the sharpest drop in hiring expectations, followed by the public sector, health and social services and the information sector.
Hospitality was the only sector that recorded an improvement in hiring expectations compared to the previous quarter.
The report identified communication and collaboration skills as the most important capabilities. After this comes problem-solving, time management and strong work ethic.
According to the report, more than 84 percent employers are ready to pay more for AI-related skills. These skills include AI model and application development as well as understanding of AI (AI literacy).
–IANS
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