Q1 2026

Published December 9, 2025

ManpowerGroup
Employment Outlook Survey

Get a comprehensive overview of recruitment plans in Czech Republic

Download report

Key findings for Q1 2026

The most positive labor market index since measurements began in 2008, with a value of 20 p.b.
38% of organizations plan to hire, 18% plan to reduce headcount, and 41% plan no changes.
The most optimistic sector is Finance and Insurance, with an index of 36%.
The least positive sector is Information and Communication Services (5%).
The first quarter of 2026 is the strongest quarter for the Construction and Real Estate sector (20%).

Downloads

In the latest edition of the ManpowerGroup survey, we asked 525 employers about their hiring plans for the fourth quarter.

INFOGRAPHIC

Explore the main trends.

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC

REPORT

Take a detailed look at trends in individual sectors.

DOWNLOAD REPORT

PRESS RELEASE

Further information on the latest results.

Historical development of the labor market index

The net labor market index for the first quarter of 2026, used internationally as an indicator of labor market developments, is calculated by subtracting the proportion of employers who expect a decline in the number of employees from those who plan to hire. The resulting value is 20%.

Net Employment Outlook index

Find The Talent and Solutions You Need

If you would like to discuss the results in person or find out how Manpower can help you find the talent and solutions you need to grow your organization, contact us today.

Survey Update

ManpowerGroup has transitioned to a new data provider to further enhance the quality and accuracy of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS).

The new provider uses advanced technology to ensure top-quality data and has a larger and more diverse panel of respondents, contributing to even more reliable survey results.

ManpowerGroup has also introduced an updated industry classification to better reflect the current global economy. Starting this quarter, we will report results in the following sectors: Finance and Insurance, Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities, Automotive, Technology and IT Services, Manufacturing, Construction and Real Estate, Trade and Logistics, HoReCa, Recreation and Cultural Services, Energy, Public Services and Natural Resources, Public Sector, Healthcare and Social Services, Information and Communication Services.

Historical data has been retroactively reclassified into the new structure to ensure long-term consistency. This step does not change national and regional results in any way.

Frequently asked questions: About the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey assesses whether employers intend to increase or decrease their workforce in the coming quarter. It is the most comprehensive forward-looking survey of its kind, unmatched in size, scope, and duration. The survey has been conducted since 1962 and is one of the most reliable indicators of labor market trends in the world.

The press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding labor demand in certain regions, countries, and industries, as well as economic uncertainty. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. These factors include those discussed in the company’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including information under the heading “Risk Factors” in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, the information of which is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements contained in this report, except as required by law.

All data in the survey is based on the answer to one question: How do you expect overall employment in your location to change in the next three months compared to the current quarter? In addition to the main question on employment, the survey asks up to six other questions that change quarterly. These questions reflect changing dynamics and trends in the economy or workforce. Topics range from talent shortages to training and workforce development to employee morale and well-being.

The Net Employment Outlook is derived from the percentage of employers who expect an increase in their workforce, minus the percentage of employers who expect a decrease in their workforce in the coming quarter. A positive Net Employment Outlook indicates that, overall, more employers expect to increase their workforce in the next three months than those who intend to reduce their workforce.

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey only tracks whether employers plan to hire new employees or not. It does not provide information about specific changes in job positions. It is a forecast based on the educated guesses of employers and HR professionals about what they think is likely to happen in their organizations in the coming quarter, not a binding plan by employers.

We survey more than 40,000 employers from the public and private sectors in 42 countries worldwide.

The data collection methodology for the Labor Market Index has been digitized in 42 markets, starting with the report for the first quarter of 2022. In previous quarters, respondents were contacted by telephone. Now, data is collected online using panels of members with double opt-in consent, who are incentivized to complete the survey. Survey participants are not drawn from ManpowerGroup’s customer base. To protect data integrity, survey respondents remain completely anonymous and confidential. In line with common findings from online surveys, more people are now taking a clear stance, stating that their workforce will either increase or decrease, rather than responding that nothing will change. Since the Net Employment Outlook is calculated solely from responses indicating an increase or decrease, this higher level of engagement may contribute to a higher index value as a result of the methodology. Survey responses were collected between April 1 and April 30, 2025.

Employers are selected based on the types of companies and organizations they represent. We want to ensure that our panel is representative of the national labor market in each participating country, so the composition of the panel in each country is designed to reflect the share of individual sectors and the size of organizations in the given economy.

For the survey, we select a person who has a good overview of the number of employees and recruitment plans in the organization. This will usually be the head of the personnel department or HR manager. In smaller organizations, however, it may be the managing director, CEO, or even the owner of the company.

Our main research partner is Reputation Leaders, which analyzes data from all 42 countries and regions to ensure consistency.

Surveys are inherently imperfect measurements. All surveys have a certain margin of error, which is largely determined by the number of interviews conducted. In the case of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, the minimum panel size in each country and region is 620, which ensures a maximum statistical deviation of ±3.9%. This prevents undue distortion of the data due to changes in a single respondent’s answers between quarters. No single panel member represents more than 2% of the total sample in a given industry or region.

Seasonal adjustment is a statistical process that allows survey data to be presented without the influence of fluctuations in recruitment that occur throughout the year, usually as a result of external factors such as changes in weather, typical production cycles, and public holidays. This process helps to offset extreme increases and decreases in data, better reflecting actual labor market trends and providing a more accurate representation of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey results.

ManpowerGroup does not track past trends in recruitment in its survey, but only future expectations. Nevertheless, we know that the survey results correspond fairly accurately with employment trends reported by governments and other institutions and represent one of the most reliable and trustworthy indicators of labor market trends worldwide.

The results, which cover 42 countries across five regions and individual sectors within each, can be evaluated in several ways. The current results, including the net labor market index, provide an overview of employers’ expectations for the coming three months. Comparing this result with the previous quarter provides a short-term view of hiring expectations in a given country or sector, while comparing it with the previous year offers a longer time frame and a deeper understanding of employers’ intentions. The global net employment outlook chart (see above) is a useful way to visualize these trends and their impact over the past five years.

ManpowerGroupEmployment Outlook Survey

Key findings for Q1 2026

Downloads

INFOGRAPHIC

REPORT

PRESS RELEASE

Historical development of the labor market index

Find The Talent and Solutions You Need

Survey Update

Frequently asked questions: About the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey

What is the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey?

Forward-Looking Statements

What questions do we ask in the survey?

What is meant by Net Employment Outlook (NEO)?

Does the survey provide data on planned changes in employment?

How large is the sample worldwide?

What is the survey methodology?

How are companies selected for the survey?

Who do you interview in each company?

Who conducts the research?

Can you explain the Margin of Error calculation?

Why do you seasonally adjust the data?

How do you know if hiring intentions reported come to fruition?

What is the best way to analyze the results? Is it better to look at quarter-over-quarter or year-over-year comparisons?

ManpowerGroup
Employment Outlook Survey