Infographics
State of U.S. hiring: Second half 2026
Hiring plans vary by location and area of specialization, with several major U.S. markets and specializations reporting particularly strong demand:
Key findings:
- 66% of employers plan to increase permanent hiring in the second half of 2026.
- 56% will add contract talent to access professionals with specialized skills.
- 48% have canceled projects due to skills gaps.
- 58% say hiring is getting harder.
- The top cities for hiring are Denver, Minneapolis and San Francisco.
- The top industries for hiring are technology, healthcare, and finance and accounting.
