- Singapore’s seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q2 2026 stands at +24%, up 10 points quarter‑on‑quarter, but down three points year-on-year.
- The Information sector leads hiring intentions with an NEO of +41%, rising by 18 points quarter‑on‑quarter and 16 points year‑on‑year.
- More than four in five employers in Singapore (82%) are already using AI in hiring, onboarding, or training—above both the Asia Pacific & Middle East average (81%) and the global average (67%).
- Learning and development deliver the strongest AI return on investment, cited by 32% of employers—well ahead of scheduling/forecasting (17%) and team performance (12%).
SINGAPORE (10 MARCH 2026) – Singapore employers report an improvement in hiring sentiment for the second quarter of 2026, even as they continue to navigate ongoing market volatility, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, conducted from January 1 to February 3, 2026.
Hiring sentiment rebounds in the second quarter of 2026, with the seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) coming in at +24%. This follows a two‑quarter decline, with the Outlook falling from +24% in Q3 2025 to +20% in Q4 2025, and +14% in Q1 2026 before recovering.
Of the 538 employers in Singapore surveyed about their Q2 2026 hiring plans, nearly half (45%) plan to increase headcount, 33% expect to maintain current staffing levels, while 21% anticipate a decrease in their staffing levels. The remaining 1% are uncertain about staffing changes in the upcoming quarter. The Information sector leads hiring intentions with 58% of employers planning to hire, resulting in a sector Outlook of +41%.
“The improvement in hiring sentiment this quarter reflects employers’ continued efforts to adapt to evolving business needs,” says Ms. Linda Teo, Country Manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore. “While much of this momentum is being driven by companies expanding into new areas, organizations are also stepping up their search for fresh skills to maintain a competitive edge — especially in the Information sector, where advancements in technology are creating demand for new expertise and supporting stronger hiring intentions as firms deepen their focus on technology‑led transformation and future capability building.”
AI Adoption and Workforce Strategies
Beyond hiring intentions, the survey examined how employers are deploying AI across workforce strategy, finding widespread adoption but uneven returns.
More than four in five organizations in Singapore (82%) are already using AI in hiring, onboarding, or training new workers. This places Singapore slightly above the regional average in Asia Pacific & Middle East (81%), and above the global average of 67%.
Across industries, AI usage is highest in Utilities & Natural Resources (89%), Information (87%), and Manufacturing (86%), while it is lowest in Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (76%), Public Sector and Health & Social Services (73%), and Hospitality (72%).
Learning and development deliver the highest perceived return on investment from AI, cited by 32% of employers. Scheduling or forecasting (17%) and team performance (12%) follow.
However, expectations remain measured. Only 4% say AI fully meets expectations in hiring and training, while 10% report no positive ROI to date. Privacy and regulatory concerns (16%), insufficient company training (13%), and workers’ lack of AI skills (9%) are the barriers most frequently ranked as the number-one challenge to broader AI deployment.
“These findings show that while many employers are already using AI in hiring and training, the next step is ensuring those tools deliver meaningful returns. That means investing in workforce readiness today — from building AI literacy and strengthening governance to addressing privacy and skills gaps — so organizations are positioned to unlock greater value from AI in the months ahead,” comments Ms. Teo.
Employment Outlooks Across the Asia Pacific and the Middle East
- The Asia Pacific & Middle East region reports a strong Outlook of +38%, leading all global regions, and rising seven points quarter‑on‑quarter and 10 points year‑on‑year.
- India (+68%) continues to anchor regional confidence, also recording the highest Outlook globally in Q2 2026.
- Vietnam joins the survey for the first time with a robust Outlook of +47%, ranking third in the region.
- Hong Kong (+11%) remains the most cautious market in the region, despite a nine‑point improvement from the previous quarter.
To view complete results for the Q2 2026 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.sg/meos. The next survey will be released in June 2026 and will report hiring expectations for Q3 2026.
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ABOUT THE SURVEY
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, now in its 64th year, is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key labor market indicator. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Survey responses were collected from January 1 and February 3, 2026. Size of organization and sector are standardized across all countries and territories to allow international comparisons.
ABOUT THE INDUSTRY SECTORS
ManpowerGroup has introduced an updated industry sector classification to ensure our insights more closely reflect today’s global economy. Beginning with this release, data will be reported across nine sectors: Construction & Real Estate; Finance & Insurance; Hospitality; Information; Manufacturing; Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Public Sector, Health & Social Services; and Trade & Logistics. Historical data has been reclassified to maintain consistency over time, and national and regional results remain unchanged. This update enhances comparability with other research and ensures greater relevance for clients, media, and market stakeholders.
Tech & IT Services is a specialty sector that combines subsectors across Manufacturing, Information, and Professional Services to provide a holistic view of all aspects relating to IT and telecoms.
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP SINGAPORE
Established in 1995 in Singapore, ManpowerGroup works with a range of manufacturing, resources, mining, transport and logistics, government, blue chip investment and retail banks, IT vendors and outsourcers, telecoms service providers and infrastructure, utilities and engineering services companies. In Singapore, the ManpowerGroup suite of solutions is offered through Manpower®, and Talent Solutions. More information on ManpowerGroup Singapore is available at: www.manpowergroup.com.sg
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2025 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th time; all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Bluesky.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding labor demand in certain regions, countries and industries, and 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 found in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, whose information is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.