2026 Talent Shortage Survey: AI Skills Most Difficult to Recruit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
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Should l Buy MAN?
Source: PRnewswire
- Surge in AI Skill Demand: ManpowerGroup's 2026 Talent Shortage Survey reveals that 72% of 39,000 employers globally report hiring difficulties, marking AI skills as the hardest to recruit, surpassing traditional engineering and IT skills, indicating a pressing demand for AI capabilities.
- Slight Improvement in Hiring Challenges: While 72% of employers face recruitment challenges, this figure has decreased from 74% last year, suggesting a strong ongoing demand for talent and potential adjustments in hiring strategies by companies.
- Escalating Global Talent Crisis: The survey spans 41 countries, highlighting the persistent nature of the global talent shortage, particularly in the context of rapid technological advancements, prompting companies to reassess their talent acquisition and development strategies to meet future challenges.
- Industry Transformation Trends: The rise of AI skills is not only reshaping the recruitment landscape but may also impact the education and training sectors, necessitating collaboration between businesses and educational institutions to cultivate talent that meets market demands and ensures competitive advantage in the future.
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Analyst Views on MAN
Wall Street analysts forecast MAN stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 25.830
Low
27.00
Averages
38.80
High
44.00
Current: 25.830
Low
27.00
Averages
38.80
High
44.00
About MAN
ManpowerGroup Inc. is a global workforce solutions company. The Company offers a comprehensive range of workforce solutions and services, which include recruitment and assessment; upskilling, reskilling, training and development; career management; outsourcing, and workforce consulting. Its portfolio of recruitment services includes permanent, temporary and contract recruitment of professionals, as well as administrative, industrial and information technology (IT) professional positions. These services are provided under its Manpower and Experis brands. Its Talent Solutions brand specializes in the delivery of customized workforce strategies and new solutions and creating added value that addresses its clients' complex global workforce needs. Its Talent Solutions combine global offerings of recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), TAPFIN - Managed Service Provider (MSP), and right management to provide data-driven capabilities that help organizations with their workforce transformation.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
2026 Talent Shortage Survey: AI Skills Most Difficult to Recruit
- Surge in AI Skill Demand: ManpowerGroup's 2026 Talent Shortage Survey reveals that 72% of 39,000 employers globally report hiring difficulties, marking AI skills as the hardest to recruit, surpassing traditional engineering and IT skills, indicating a pressing demand for AI capabilities.
- Slight Improvement in Hiring Challenges: While 72% of employers face recruitment challenges, this figure has decreased from 74% last year, suggesting a strong ongoing demand for talent and potential adjustments in hiring strategies by companies.
- Escalating Global Talent Crisis: The survey spans 41 countries, highlighting the persistent nature of the global talent shortage, particularly in the context of rapid technological advancements, prompting companies to reassess their talent acquisition and development strategies to meet future challenges.
- Industry Transformation Trends: The rise of AI skills is not only reshaping the recruitment landscape but may also impact the education and training sectors, necessitating collaboration between businesses and educational institutions to cultivate talent that meets market demands and ensures competitive advantage in the future.
See More
2026 Talent Shortage Survey Reveals Surge in AI Skills Demand
- Rising Demand for AI Skills: The 2026 Talent Shortage Survey by ManpowerGroup reveals that 72% of employers report hiring difficulties, with AI skills surpassing traditional engineering and IT capabilities for the first time, indicating a significant shift in the global talent landscape that necessitates accelerated upskilling efforts by companies.
- New Technical Demand Hierarchy: AI model and application development (20%) and AI literacy (19%) now lead the global ranking of hard-to-find skills, displacing traditional IT and data skills, which highlights a rapid strategic realignment of talent investment towards AI-driven capabilities that will shape future workforce strategies.
- Enduring Value of Human Skills: Despite the surge in AI demand, core human skills such as communication, collaboration, and teamwork remain highly sought after, with 39% of employers prioritizing these attributes, reinforcing the lasting importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace.
- Geographic Variability in Talent Scarcity: Employers in Germany (83%), France (74%), and the U.K. (73%) experience significant talent shortages, while the U.S. (69%) tracks slightly below the global average, illustrating the stark differences in talent demand and competitive strategies across various regions.
See More
High-Income Workers Extend Job Tenure Amid AI Fears
- Labor Market Confidence Decline: The University of Michigan survey indicates that confidence among high earners in the labor market has plummeted to historic lows since the late 1970s, reflecting fears of rising unemployment rates that may lead to longer job tenures, thereby impacting overall economic dynamism.
- Decreased White-Collar Turnover: ADP reports that turnover rates among traditional white-collar jobs have reached record lows, suggesting that fears of AI job displacement are causing high-income workers to remain in their positions longer, potentially reducing market activity and affecting corporate innovation.
- Complex AI Impact: Federal Reserve officials highlight that while AI may displace certain jobs, it could also create new opportunities, emphasizing the dual role of AI in the future labor market, which may influence policy-making and corporate strategies.
- Strong Employment for High Earners: Despite low confidence among high-income workers, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the unemployment rate in finance is just 2.1%, indicating that the job market for high earners remains robust, potentially supporting economic recovery.
See More
The 'Boomcession' Phenomenon in the U.S. Economy
- Disconnect Between Data and Sentiment: Despite rising economic output and stock market gains, ordinary Americans are feeling increased financial pressure, as evidenced by credit card debt reaching a record $1.28 trillion in Q4 last year, indicating that economic prosperity is not benefiting the majority.
- Uneven Inflation Impact: According to Morgan Stanley, lower-income consumers faced significantly higher inflation rates for food and housing in 2024 compared to wealthier counterparts, exacerbating the gap between economic growth and consumer confidence and highlighting social inequality.
- 'Hiring Recession' in Job Market: While economic output per hour hit new highs, ordinary workers are anxious as the job market tightens, with December job openings falling to their lowest level since 2020, reflecting the disparity in economic benefits between high-income stockholders and the general workforce.
- Crisis of Trust in Economic Data: Surveys reveal that nearly 60% of Americans believe the economy is in recession, particularly among low-income households facing unstable financial situations, leading to a decline in trust in government economic data and highlighting the significant gap between economic prosperity and public sentiment.
See More
ManpowerGroup Upgraded to Buy by Argus Amid Improving Earnings Outlook
- Rating Upgrade: Argus has upgraded ManpowerGroup's rating from Hold to Buy, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations regarding the recent negative earnings trend beginning to improve.
- Revenue Growth Improvement: In the most recent quarter, ManpowerGroup's revenue growth has improved while margins have remained steady, demonstrating the company's resilience amid challenging economic conditions.
- Management Outlook: The company's management anticipates a return to growth in Q1 2026, indicating that market demand is improving and that cost-optimization strategies have been implemented to address challenges.
- Attractive Valuation: With a current P/E ratio of 7.4X, Argus considers ManpowerGroup's valuation attractive and has set a 12-month price target of $42, suggesting a potential rebound in share price.
See More
ManpowerGroup Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Stable Revenue Growth: ManpowerGroup reported fourth-quarter revenues of $4.7 billion and system-wide revenues of $5.1 billion, reflecting a 2% organic growth that indicates stability in enterprise demand and effective cost optimization.
- Effective Cost Control: The company achieved a 4% year-over-year reduction in SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter and recorded its first positive operating profit in Northern Europe, demonstrating ongoing efforts in cost management and strategic significance.
- AI Tool Application Boost: By expanding AI recruitment toolkits, ManpowerGroup increased placement rates by 7%, which not only enhances the company's competitive position in the market but also lays a foundation for future business growth.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company forecasts earnings per share for Q1 2026 to be between $0.45 and $0.55, with organic revenue growth expected to achieve a 1% increase, reflecting management's confidence in future growth prospects.
See More
2026 Talent Shortage Survey: AI Skills Most Difficult to Recruit
- Surge in AI Skill Demand: ManpowerGroup's 2026 Talent Shortage Survey reveals that 72% of 39,000 employers globally report hiring difficulties, marking AI skills as the hardest to recruit, surpassing traditional engineering and IT skills, indicating a pressing demand for AI capabilities.
- Slight Improvement in Hiring Challenges: While 72% of employers face recruitment challenges, this figure has decreased from 74% last year, suggesting a strong ongoing demand for talent and potential adjustments in hiring strategies by companies.
- Escalating Global Talent Crisis: The survey spans 41 countries, highlighting the persistent nature of the global talent shortage, particularly in the context of rapid technological advancements, prompting companies to reassess their talent acquisition and development strategies to meet future challenges.
- Industry Transformation Trends: The rise of AI skills is not only reshaping the recruitment landscape but may also impact the education and training sectors, necessitating collaboration between businesses and educational institutions to cultivate talent that meets market demands and ensures competitive advantage in the future.
See More
2026 Talent Shortage Survey Reveals Surge in AI Skills Demand
- Rising Demand for AI Skills: The 2026 Talent Shortage Survey by ManpowerGroup reveals that 72% of employers report hiring difficulties, with AI skills surpassing traditional engineering and IT capabilities for the first time, indicating a significant shift in the global talent landscape that necessitates accelerated upskilling efforts by companies.
- New Technical Demand Hierarchy: AI model and application development (20%) and AI literacy (19%) now lead the global ranking of hard-to-find skills, displacing traditional IT and data skills, which highlights a rapid strategic realignment of talent investment towards AI-driven capabilities that will shape future workforce strategies.
- Enduring Value of Human Skills: Despite the surge in AI demand, core human skills such as communication, collaboration, and teamwork remain highly sought after, with 39% of employers prioritizing these attributes, reinforcing the lasting importance of interpersonal skills in the workplace.
- Geographic Variability in Talent Scarcity: Employers in Germany (83%), France (74%), and the U.K. (73%) experience significant talent shortages, while the U.S. (69%) tracks slightly below the global average, illustrating the stark differences in talent demand and competitive strategies across various regions.
See More
High-Income Workers Extend Job Tenure Amid AI Fears
- Labor Market Confidence Decline: The University of Michigan survey indicates that confidence among high earners in the labor market has plummeted to historic lows since the late 1970s, reflecting fears of rising unemployment rates that may lead to longer job tenures, thereby impacting overall economic dynamism.
- Decreased White-Collar Turnover: ADP reports that turnover rates among traditional white-collar jobs have reached record lows, suggesting that fears of AI job displacement are causing high-income workers to remain in their positions longer, potentially reducing market activity and affecting corporate innovation.
- Complex AI Impact: Federal Reserve officials highlight that while AI may displace certain jobs, it could also create new opportunities, emphasizing the dual role of AI in the future labor market, which may influence policy-making and corporate strategies.
- Strong Employment for High Earners: Despite low confidence among high-income workers, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the unemployment rate in finance is just 2.1%, indicating that the job market for high earners remains robust, potentially supporting economic recovery.
See More
The 'Boomcession' Phenomenon in the U.S. Economy
- Disconnect Between Data and Sentiment: Despite rising economic output and stock market gains, ordinary Americans are feeling increased financial pressure, as evidenced by credit card debt reaching a record $1.28 trillion in Q4 last year, indicating that economic prosperity is not benefiting the majority.
- Uneven Inflation Impact: According to Morgan Stanley, lower-income consumers faced significantly higher inflation rates for food and housing in 2024 compared to wealthier counterparts, exacerbating the gap between economic growth and consumer confidence and highlighting social inequality.
- 'Hiring Recession' in Job Market: While economic output per hour hit new highs, ordinary workers are anxious as the job market tightens, with December job openings falling to their lowest level since 2020, reflecting the disparity in economic benefits between high-income stockholders and the general workforce.
- Crisis of Trust in Economic Data: Surveys reveal that nearly 60% of Americans believe the economy is in recession, particularly among low-income households facing unstable financial situations, leading to a decline in trust in government economic data and highlighting the significant gap between economic prosperity and public sentiment.
See More
ManpowerGroup Upgraded to Buy by Argus Amid Improving Earnings Outlook
- Rating Upgrade: Argus has upgraded ManpowerGroup's rating from Hold to Buy, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations regarding the recent negative earnings trend beginning to improve.
- Revenue Growth Improvement: In the most recent quarter, ManpowerGroup's revenue growth has improved while margins have remained steady, demonstrating the company's resilience amid challenging economic conditions.
- Management Outlook: The company's management anticipates a return to growth in Q1 2026, indicating that market demand is improving and that cost-optimization strategies have been implemented to address challenges.
- Attractive Valuation: With a current P/E ratio of 7.4X, Argus considers ManpowerGroup's valuation attractive and has set a 12-month price target of $42, suggesting a potential rebound in share price.
See More
ManpowerGroup Q4 2025 Earnings Call Insights
- Stable Revenue Growth: ManpowerGroup reported fourth-quarter revenues of $4.7 billion and system-wide revenues of $5.1 billion, reflecting a 2% organic growth that indicates stability in enterprise demand and effective cost optimization.
- Effective Cost Control: The company achieved a 4% year-over-year reduction in SG&A expenses in the fourth quarter and recorded its first positive operating profit in Northern Europe, demonstrating ongoing efforts in cost management and strategic significance.
- AI Tool Application Boost: By expanding AI recruitment toolkits, ManpowerGroup increased placement rates by 7%, which not only enhances the company's competitive position in the market but also lays a foundation for future business growth.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company forecasts earnings per share for Q1 2026 to be between $0.45 and $0.55, with organic revenue growth expected to achieve a 1% increase, reflecting management's confidence in future growth prospects.
See More
