The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. Running since 1962, various factors underpin the success of the Survey:

Unique – It is unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus. The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, asking employers to forecast employment over the next quarter. In contrast, other surveys and studies focus on retrospective data to report on what occurred in the past.Independent – The survey is conducted with a representative sample of employers from throughout the countries and territories in which it is conducted. The survey participants are not derived from ManpowerGroup’s customer base.

Robust – The survey is based on interviews with 39,063 public and private employers across 41 countries to measure anticipated employment trends each quarter. This sample allows for analysis to be performed across specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.

Focused – For more than six decades the survey has derived all of its information from a single question (Q1 2026 example): “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of March 2026 as compared to the current quarter?"

Survey Methodology – Survey responses were collected from October 1-31, 2025. Size of organization and sector are standardized across all countries and territories to allow international comparisons.