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Workforce gaps are accelerating the need for new talent strategies. Most employers said their current teams can’t meet project demands. Here’s what leaders can do: Small Midsize Large Small Midsize Large

Hiring plans for 2026

Demand for permanent and contract talent signals urgent skill needs, and staffing firms are uniquely positioned to help companies meet immediate and long-term workforce goals.

60%

of company leaders plan to increase permanent headcount in the first half of the year.

55%

expect to bring on more contract talent, reflecting the need for scalable support in the current market.
Increase Stay the
same
Decrease Increase Stay the
same
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Hiring is getting harder

58% of business leaders said finding skilled talent is more difficult than it was a year ago—and AI is adding pressure, with 65% reporting challenges from AI-generated applications.  Additional steps to validate skills Increased applications from unqualified candidates Difficulty identifying authentic resumes More time spent verifying credentials
As hiring becomes more time-consuming and complex, a specialized recruiter can help you cut through the noise and effectively connect you with skilled candidates who match your needs. of employers said they are likely to seek support from a staffing firm to navigate AI-related hiring challenges.

said staffing firms have been effective in addressing AI-related hiring challenges.

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More to explore

Labor market overview Stay on top of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and job posting data to learn about today’s hiring market.
Small business recruitment trends Get up to speed on small business staffing trends and find out what it takes to attract and hire top talent.
2026 Salary Guide Explore the latest data for roles across 7 professional fields and what you should pay or earn in local and national markets.
The surveys cited were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. Results may not total 100% due to rounding or allowing for multiple responses. Respondents included executives, hiring managers and workers from small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000+ employees) businesses in private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the U.S. Over 1.5 million new positions from more than 9,000 independent job boards and company websites are represented in this report, including thousands of placements from Robert Half. Positions are categorized into more than 430 job titles within Robert Half’s Salary Guide using a proprietary mapping methodology that employs state-of-the-art large language models. This dataset includes roles across the finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, non-clinical healthcare, and human resources professions.