Companies are approaching hiring in the remainder of the year with an optimistic outlook, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment International, parent company of Specialized Recruiting Group.
American Hiring Decision-Makers Are Optimistic, Yet Expect AI Challenges
Eighty-four percent of hiring decision-makers feel positive about their company’s hiring outlook for the second half of the year, yet expect to face challenges (90%), principally navigating AI use.
Most (60%) companies plan to increase headcount, down from 66% from the previous six months, with 19% planning to make significant increases in the number of employees. Thirty-two percent plan to stay at about the same number of employees or make no change to headcount.
Reasons Companies Plan to Increase Headcount
- Manage increased volumes of work – 53%
- Fill newly created positions – 49%
- Fill positions open due to employee turnover – 42%
- Handle expansion into other categories or markets – 37%
AI Challenges Are at the Forefront
Navigating AI use is the top challenge hiring decision-makers (49%) anticipate. This includes identifying ways AI can help reach more candidates and/or implementing AI to help assess job candidates, aid in the hiring process, and/or help process job applications.
Hiring decision-makers expecting to face AI challenges:
When considering applicants to hire at their company, 54% of hiring decision-makers say AI skills are absolutely essential or very important.
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Canadian Hiring Decision-Makers Feel Positive, But Anticipate Facing Challenges
Canadian hiring decision-makers also feel positive (74%) about their company’s hiring outlook for the second half of the year, yet anticipate facing challenges (86%), principally, finding qualified candidates (45%).
Forty-three per cent of companies plan to increase headcount in the second half of the year and 47% plan to stay at about the same number of employees or make no change to headcount.
Reasons Companies Plan to Increase Headcount
- Manage increased volumes of work – 56%
- Fill newly created positions – 44%
- Fill positions open due to employee turnover – 29%
- Handle expansion into other categories or markets – 29%
Rising Challenges
Finding qualified candidates (45%) is the top challenge hiring decision-makers anticipate, followed by navigating AI (28%). This includes identifying ways AI can help reach more candidates and/or implementing AI to help assess job candidates, aid in the hiring process, and/or help process job applications.
When considering applicants to hire at their company, 34% of hiring decision-makers say AI skills are absolutely essential or very important.
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About Specialized Recruiting Group
Specialized Recruiting Group (SRG) delivers top-tier professional talent solutions. SRG supports local business communities and professionals seeking new career opportunities by offering a consultative and collaborative approach to professional staffing. For more information, visit SRGPros.com or SRGPros.ca. Find the location nearest you in the U.S. or Canada.
The Job Insights survey was conducted online within the United States and Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment International, parent company of Specialized Recruiting Group, among hiring decision-makers in the U.S. (n=1,006) and Canada (n=508), May 13–June 1, 2026. For complete survey methodology, please contact Communications@ExpressPros.com.
