Global hiring gathered pace in the third quarter of 2026. Worldwide payroll growth reached its strongest level in more than three years in September, unemployment across OECD countries is close to record lows, and employers’ hiring plans for the final quarter are up on both the previous quarter and a year earlier. But the outlook is clouded by the Middle East conflict, higher energy prices and inflation, and the IMF expects global growth to slow this year. This quarterly global recruitment market review brings together the latest data from ManpowerGroup, the OECD, the IMF, the ILO and S&P Global, with a regional view of the UK, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, North America and Asia Pacific.

Last updated: 27 October 2026. This Q3 2026 review uses the latest data available at the end of October 2026. Our next global review covers Q4 2026 and will be published in January 2027.

Global recruitment market at a glance: Q3 2026

  • Employers in 42 countries report a global Net Employment Outlook of 29% for Q4 2026, up 2 points on the quarter and 6 points on the year (ManpowerGroup).
  • The global PMI Employment Index rose to its highest since May 2023 in September 2026, with all eight major industries adding jobs for the first time in over three years (S&P Global).
  • OECD unemployment was 5.0% in August 2026, while the OECD employment rate hit a record 70.4% in Q2 2026 (OECD).
  • The IMF projects global growth of 3.1% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, with global inflation at 4.7% in 2026 (IMF).
  • Global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025, affecting 67 million young people (ILO).

Global labour market statistics: the key numbers

Measure Latest figure Period Source
Global Net Employment Outlook (42 countries) 29% Q4 2026 ManpowerGroup
Employers planning to increase staff 43% (14% expect cuts) Q4 2026 ManpowerGroup
OECD unemployment rate 5.0% August 2026 OECD
OECD employment rate (record high) 70.4% Q2 2026 OECD
OECD youth unemployment (15 to 24) 11.3% August 2026 OECD
Global GDP growth forecast 3.1% (2026), 3.4% (2027) October 2026 forecast IMF
Global headline inflation forecast 4.7% (2026), 4.1% (2027) October 2026 forecast IMF
Global youth unemployment 12.4% (67 million) 2025 ILO

Is global hiring picking up?

Yes. S&P Global’s worldwide PMI surveys show the global Employment Index rose to its highest since May 2023 in September 2026, the third successive month of net job gains, after largely stalled or falling employment in the first half of the year. September was the first time in over three years that all eight major industries reported higher employment, and technology firms have been taking on extra workers at a rate not seen for over two years. Manufacturing payrolls rose at a pace not seen since May 2022 (Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, 7 October 2026).

The gains were uneven. The strongest job gain was reported in the US, India led in terms of jobs growth and mainland China’s job gains were among the strongest in three and a half years. Modest employment growth returned to the eurozone, but UK jobs continued to be cut, Canada and Australia saw job cuts on average, and Brazil reported its steepest decline since March 2021 (Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, 7 October 2026).

What are employers’ global hiring plans for Q4 2026?

ManpowerGroup surveyed 39,878 employers across 42 countries. 43% plan to increase staff between October and December 2026, 14% expect reductions and 41% expect no change, giving a global Net Employment Outlook of 29%, up 2 points on the previous quarter and 6 points year on year. Expected increases are driven by company expansion, while expected decreases are driven by economic challenges (Source: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, Q4 2026).

By region, the Americas lead at 36% (up 11 points year on year), followed by Asia Pacific at 34% and Europe and the Middle East at 22%. India reports the strongest outlook at 54%, followed by Brazil (53%) and Panama (49%). By sector, Construction and Real Estate and Finance and Insurance are joint strongest at 36%. By size, organisations with 250 to 999 employees are most positive at 34% (Source: ManpowerGroup, Q4 2026).

Hiring is also changing shape. Among organisations increasing headcount, 62% point to changing roles and skills, compared with 32% that are backfilling positions (Source: ManpowerGroup, Q4 2026). That makes skills-based job ads and clear career paths more important than ever. Read our guide to skills-based hiring.

How do recruitment markets compare around the world?

Market Net Employment Outlook (Q4 2026) Latest unemployment rate
United Kingdom 23% 4.7% (June to August 2026, ONS)
Germany 15% 4.0% (August 2026, Eurostat)
France 13% 8.2% (August 2026, Eurostat)
Netherlands 33% 4.0% (August 2026, Eurostat)
UAE 41% (not yet seasonally adjusted) Not published monthly
Australia 27% 4.7% (September 2026, ABS)
United States 36% 4.2% (September 2026, OECD)
Canada 19% 6.5% (September 2026, OECD)
India 54% Not compared
China 34% Not compared
Japan 7% Not compared
Singapore 13% Not compared

Sources: Net Employment Outlook from ManpowerGroup, Q4 2026; unemployment from ONS, Eurostat, ABS and OECD.

What is the global unemployment rate?

Across the OECD, unemployment was broadly stable at 5.0% in August 2026, just 0.2 points above its record low from June 2023. The OECD employment rate and labour force participation rate both reached record highs in Q2 2026, at 70.4% and 74.2%. Youth unemployment rose to 11.3% in August from 11.0% in July (Source: OECD, Labour Market Situation, October 2026).

Globally, the ILO reports that unemployment stood at 4.9% in 2025, unchanged from 2024 (Source: ILO, Director-General statement, April 2026). The ILO also warned that adjustment to external shocks “often occurs initially through weaker hiring, falling real wages, deteriorating working conditions and rising informality rather than through open unemployment”, which is why hiring data matters as much as unemployment figures.

How is AI changing entry-level hiring?

Young people are finding it harder to get a foothold. The ILO found global youth unemployment rose to 12.4% in 2025, equivalent to 67 million people aged 15 to 24, and the share not in employment, education or training rose to 20%. It estimates that 6.1% of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes, many of them clerical and administrative roles that have declined for young people since 2023 (Source: ILO, Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026, 11 August 2026).

For employers, this is an opportunity. Redesigned entry-level roles, apprenticeships and graduate programmes can attract strong young candidates, and a clear message about learning and progression is a powerful part of your employer brand. Read our view on AI in recruitment marketing.

What is the global economic outlook for hiring?

The IMF projects global growth of 3.1% in 2026, rising to 3.4% in 2027, with global headline inflation at 4.7% in 2026 and 4.1% in 2027. It lists further escalation in conflicts, a reassessment of expectations about AI, renewed trade tensions and fiscal vulnerabilities as the main downside risks, and stronger AI investment and productivity gains among the upside possibilities (Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026).

Regional snapshot

United Kingdom

UK vacancies fell to 691,000 in July to September 2026, the first time below 700,000 since 2021, and unemployment was 4.7% in June to August 2026 (Source: ONS, October 2026). UK employers report a Net Employment Outlook of 23% for Q4 2026. Read our UK Recruitment Market Update, October 2026.

Europe

Euro area unemployment was stable at 6.4% in August 2026, and the ECB raised its deposit rate to 2.50% in September as inflation rose to 3.3% (Sources: Eurostat, October 2026; ECB, September 2026). Read our European Recruitment Market Review, Q3 2026.

Australia

Australian unemployment rose to 4.7% in September 2026 (Source: ABS, October 2026), and Australian employers report a Net Employment Outlook of 27% for Q4 2026. Read our Australia Recruitment Market Update, October 2026.

Middle East

The UAE reports the strongest outlook in Europe and the Middle East at 41%, and the UAE PMI held at 55.3 in September 2026 as the non-oil economy moved past the midyear slowdown linked to the conflict (Sources: ManpowerGroup UAE; The National, 5 October 2026). Read our UAE Recruitment Market Update, October 2026.

North America

US unemployment was 4.2% and Canadian unemployment 6.5% in September 2026 (Source: OECD, October 2026). US employers report a Net Employment Outlook of 36%, compared with 19% in Canada.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific’s Net Employment Outlook is 34%, up 6 points on the quarter, led by India (54%) and China (34%), while Japan (7%) and Singapore (13%) are more cautious (Source: ManpowerGroup, Q4 2026).

Key dates to watch

  • 29 October 2026: ECB monetary policy meeting (ECB).
  • 17 November 2026: ONS UK labour market release (ONS).
  • 19 November 2026: ABS Labour Force, Australia, October 2026 (ABS).
  • December 2026: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey for Q1 2027 (ManpowerGroup).
  • January 2027: next OECD Labour Market Situation release (OECD).

What this means for multi-country employers

  • Budget by market, not by headline. With outlooks ranging from 7% in Japan to 54% in India, a single global plan will overspend in some markets and underspend in others. Build a recruitment marketing strategy by market.
  • Hire for skills, not just replacements. Most growth hiring is about new roles and skills, so write job ads around capabilities and outcomes.
  • Keep one employer brand, with local proof. A consistent employer brand with local stories and benefits builds trust in every market.
  • Cut wasted spend. Recruitment advertising optimisation moves budget to the channels that deliver hires.
  • Be found in search and AI answers worldwide. Recruitment SEO and AIO makes your careers content visible to candidates researching you on Google and AI assistants.
  • Build talent pools early. Talent attraction marketing keeps candidates engaged while hiring plans firm up.

The bottom line

Global hiring is picking up, led by the US, India and Asia Pacific, while the UK, Canada and Australia are softer. Inflation, energy costs and conflict risks remain high, but employers’ hiring plans for the end of 2026 are stronger than a year ago. Employers who plan by market, hire for skills and stay visible to candidates will be best placed for 2027.

Sources

Hiring across several countries in 2027? Get in touch with RMG to talk about a joined-up employer brand and recruitment marketing plan across your markets.