Employer hiring intentions continue to moderate for the second quarter of 2024. According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) stands at +22% for Q2, down -2% year-over-year and -4% from Q1. The research is based on data collected from more than 40,000 employers in 42 countries between January 2-31, 2024.

“After years of the post-pandemic economy clicking along at breakneck speed, a cooldown was inevitable,” said ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising. “Still, demand remains strong for skilled talent. Given the global talent shortage, we expect hiring managers to get creative in this climate, whether it’s upskilling current staff or through more targeted recruitment, as businesses gauge conditions over the coming months.”

Used internationally as a bellwether of economic and labor market trends, the NEO is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions in staffing levels from those who plan to hire.

Q2 KEY FINDINGS

• Global Outlooks softened by -2% since Q2 2023 and -4% from Q1 2024.
• The strongest Net Employment Outlook level is anticipated in North America (+31%), followed by Asia Pacific (+27%), Central and South Americas (+19%) and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (+15%).
• By country, the strongest Net Employment Outlook levels are reported in India (+36%), the U.S. (+34%), and China, Costa Rica, and the Netherlands all at +32%, with the weakest in Romania (-2%), Israel (-1%), and Argentina (+1%).
• Employers in India (+6%), Hungary (+5%), Belgium (+4%), and the U.S. (+4%) reported the largest year-over-year increases in Net Employment Outlook levels, while Panama (-25%), Hong Kong, Israel, Norway, and Romania, each at -14%, posting the lowest levels.
• The IT industry continued to have the brightest global hiring outlook at +34%, followed by Financials & Real Estate (+29%), and Health Care & Life Sciences (+28%).

GLOBAL HIRING PLANS BY REGION

North America: Despite a slight decline from Q1 2024 (-3%), North American employers remain the most optimistic with a +31% Outlook, which is up +1% from Q2 2023.

• Employers in the U.S. (+34%) reported the strongest hiring intentions, followed by Canada (+22%), and Puerto Rico (+14%).
• The U.S. reports the strongest industry Outlooks for IT at +51% and Financial Services & Real Estate at +50%.

Central & South America: At +19%, hiring projections declined both annually (-8%) and quarterly (-9%).

• Strongest intentions are by employers in Costa Rica (+32%), Mexico (27%), and Guatemala (+26). Argentina (+1%), Chile (+10%), and Panama (+15%) have the weakest Outlooks.
• Industrials & Construction and Transport & Logistics industries lead in projected payroll gains.

Asia Pacific (APAC): Hiring managers across the regional anticipate the second strongest regional Outlook (+27%), unchanged year-over-year, but a -3% decline from last quarter.

• Employers in India (36%) and China (32%) report the strongest Outlooks in the region, while the most cautious Outlooks were reported by employers in Japan (11%) and Taiwan (12%).
• The strongest Outlooks globally for the Communication Services industry sector are reported by employers in the Hong Kong (60%) and Energy & Utilities in China (37%).

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA): Employers in EMEA temper hiring efforts resulting in a +15% regional Outlook, decreasing by -4% year-over-year, and -6% since Q1 2024.

• The Netherlands and South Africa lead with +32% and +29% respectively. Weakest is Romania with -2% expected workforce decline.
• The strongest hiring intentions globally for the Consumer Goods & Services industry are reported by employers in Switzerland (41%); Health Care & Life Sciences in South Africa (45%); and Transport and Logistics & Automotive in the Netherlands (44%).

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