Employers Across APME Signal Intentional Growth as Hiring Outlook Improves to +31% for Q1 2026: Latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey
- The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q1 2026 in Asia Pacific and the Middle East (APME) stands at +31%, the highest level since Q1 2024.
- Employers in India (+52%), United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) (+46%), and Israel (+25%) report the strongest Outlooks in the region.
- With an NEO of +38%, the Information sector and Finance & Insurance sector leads hiring intentions, followed by Tech & IT Services (+37%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (+36%).
- 44% of employers in the region plan to hire in Q1 2026, with 40% citing company expansion as the top reason for staffing increases, followed by new business areas requiring additional roles (30%).
VIETNAM (12 DECEMBER 2025) – Hiring optimism across Asia Pacific and the Middle East (APME) is improving, with employers reporting a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of +31% for Q1 2026—up three points from Q4 2025 and seven points higher than Q1 2025.
The survey of 12,193 employers across 10 APME countries and territories found that 44% of employers expect to expand their workforce, 13% are anticipating a decrease in headcount, and another 39% are planning to maintain current staffing levels. Meanwhile, 4% are uncertain about staffing changes in the upcoming quarter.
Apart from India (+52%) and the U.A.E. (+46%), hiring remains subdued. China’s Outlook (+24%) softened by nine points, Hong Kong (+1%) posts the region’s lowest and among the weakest globally, while Australia (+18%) and Singapore (+15%) eased by six and five points respectively when compared to the previous quarter.
“Hiring plans across Asia Pacific and the Middle East reflect a shift towards intentional growth. Employers are expanding strategically, prioritizing roles that enable innovation and adaptability. While India and the Middle East are driving much of the momentum, other Asia Pacific markets are taking a more measured approach as economic conditions weigh on confidence. This strategy is about building strength for the future—investing in the right skills to stay competitive in a market that continues to evolve,” said François Lançon, Regional President, Asia Pacific & Middle East, ManpowerGroup.
Finance & Insurance and Information employers reported the highest employment outlook, with NEO standing at 38%, while Public Sector, Health & Social Services marked the most improved, increasing 8 percentage points compared to the previous quarter.
Economic Caution Reshapes Workforce Strategies
Economic uncertainty continues to influence workforce planning across APME. Among organizations maintaining headcount, a quarter (25%) are waiting to see how the economy evolves before making hiring decisions.
The impact is more pronounced among companies reducing staff, with 31% citing economic challenges as the main reason for workforce reductions. Other factors include:
- Market shifts (30%): Market changes have reduced demand for specific jobs.
- Automation (26%): Automation has reduced the need for certain roles
- Restructuring (24%): The organization is undergoing reorganization or downsizing.
- Right-sizing (23%): Reducing staff to align with current business demand.
- Operational efficiency (22%): Optimizing processes to enhance efficiency, leading to role consolidation.
- Organizational growth (40%): The company is expanding in size, creating more positions.
- New business areas (30%): Branching into new markets or sectors requires new roles.
- Technology advancements (28%): Advancements in technology demand new expertise and roles.
- Competitive advantage (28%): Seeking fresh perspectives and skills to maintain a competitive edge.
- Diversity initiatives (27%): Committed to enhancing team diversity by opening new positions.
Notably, among employers planning to increase staffing, just 21% are backfilling recent departures and 18% are backfilling more longstanding vacancies. The emphasis is on new roles, underscoring a move toward purposeful talent investments rather than simply replacing departures.
To view the complete results for the Q1 2026 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, visit: https://www.manpower.com.vn/en/insights/meos/2026
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. 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.
ABOUT MANPOWER VIETNAM
Manpower Vietnam is the leading global recruitment, staffing and outsourcing company in Vietnam, operating in the country since 2008. We are the first 100% foreign invested company licensed to provide recruitment, staffing and outsourcing services since our first footprints in Vietnam. With our thorough understanding of staffing trends and our deep pool of highly qualified candidates, Manpower can deliver the talent, matching the right individual to the right job – faster and with better business results. For more information, visit www.manpower.com.vn, or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Media Contact
Thao Phan
Marketing and PR Executive
Manpower Vietnam
[email protected]
