Quarterly Report

Employment Outlook Survey Report - Q2 2026

Providing employers and employees a forward-looking perspective on employment and hiring intentions.
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Executive Summary

During the second quarter of 2026, managers expect hiring to increase in Australia, with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 33%.

The Australian NEO is expected to increase 14 percentage points from last quarter and 16 percentage points since this time last year.

Australia ranked 15th globally, and 4th in the APME region.

 

 33% Australia Net Employment Outlook

Increased by 14 percentage points vs. Q1 2026
Increased by 16 percentage points vs. Q2 2025

Large-sized organisations (1000-4999) are the most optimistic.
40% Net Employment Outlook in Q2 2026
Increased by 16 percentage points vs. Q1 2026

Highest Local Hiring Demand
Construction & Real Estate: 54% | Information: 48%

 

Capturing Future Hiring Plans 

Since 1962, ManpowerGroup has asked organisations about their quarterly hiring plans.

More than 41,700 employers across 42 countries reported hiring expectations  for Q2 2026 in the latest edition of the Employment Outlook Survey.


Respondents shared whether their staffing levels would remain unchanged, increase through new hiring, or decrease due to layoffs or anticipated departures.

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Important Note:

The data for the Q2 2026 MEOS report was collected between January 1 and February 3, 2026, prior to geopolitical developments that began across the Middle East in late February.

The findings reflect employer sentiment at the time of data collection and may not capture the potential impact of subsequent events.

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