2026 Talent Shortage Survey Reveals Surge in AI Skills Demand
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 26 2026
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Should l Buy MAN?
Source: Newsfilter
- 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.
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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: 30.730
Low
27.00
Averages
38.80
High
44.00
Current: 30.730
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.
QSM Asset Management Acquires Stake in ManpowerGroup
- New Investment Position: QSM Asset Management established a new position in ManpowerGroup by acquiring 197,104 shares in Q1 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $5.9 million, indicating recognition of potential value in the company.
- Asset Allocation Insight: This acquisition represents 2.9% of QSM's 13F reportable assets under management as of March 31, 2026, highlighting its strategic significance within the fund's overall portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: ManpowerGroup's shares have fallen approximately 37% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by about 66 percentage points, reflecting challenges and uncertainties in the global staffing industry.
- Financial Overview: Despite a 7% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.7 billion in Q4 2025, ManpowerGroup's adjusted earnings per share fell by 38%, illustrating the company's struggles amid restructuring and a difficult operating environment in Europe.
See More
ManpowerGroup Projects Q2 Earnings Between $0.91 and $1.01
- Earnings Guidance: ManpowerGroup anticipates second-quarter earnings per share between $0.91 and $1.01, including a favorable currency impact of 5 cents, indicating the company's resilience against currency fluctuations, which could positively influence investor confidence.
- Tax Rate Impact: The company expects an effective tax rate of 43%, which will directly affect net income, reflecting strategic adjustments in tax management that may influence future profitability.
- Cost Savings Initiative: ManpowerGroup's global strategic transformation program is projected to deliver $200 million in permanent cost savings by 2028, enhancing the company's financial stability and providing funding for future investments.
- Stock Performance: As of Wednesday, ManpowerGroup's stock closed at $30.73 on the NYSE, up $1.50 or 5.13%, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future outlook.
See More
ManpowerGroup Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Miss: ManpowerGroup reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.05, missing expectations by $0.45, indicating ongoing pressure on profitability that could affect investor confidence.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenues of $4.51 billion in Q1, a 10.3% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $100 million, reflecting a recovery in business demand and an increase in market share.
- Slight Share Price Increase: Despite the earnings miss, ManpowerGroup's shares rose by 1% in after-hours trading, indicating market recognition of its revenue growth, which may attract more investor interest.
- Positive Analyst Rating: Argus has assigned a bullish rating to ManpowerGroup, suggesting confidence in the company's future growth potential, which could further drive up the stock price.
See More
ManpowerGroup Reports Decline in Q1 Profit
- Profit Decline: ManpowerGroup reported a first-quarter net profit of $2.5 billion, translating to earnings per share of $0.05, which marks a significant drop from last year's $5.6 billion and $0.12 per share, indicating pressure on the company's profitability.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the profit decline, the company achieved a 10.3% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $4.51 billion compared to $4.09 billion last year, demonstrating resilience in its business and sustained market demand.
- Performance Comparison: The substantial drop in earnings per share compared to the previous year suggests that the company may face challenges in cost control and market competition, necessitating measures to improve profitability.
- Market Reaction: The significant profit decline could negatively impact investor confidence, especially against the backdrop of the company's efforts to maintain revenue growth, making future strategic adjustments crucial.
See More
ManpowerGroup Reports Decline in Q1 Net Earnings
- Net Earnings Decline: ManpowerGroup reported diluted net earnings of $0.05 per share for Q1 2026, a 58.3% drop from $0.12 in the prior year, with net earnings falling from $5.6 million to $2.5 million, indicating significant pressure on profitability.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the decline in net earnings, Q1 revenues reached $4.5 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year, demonstrating the company's resilience in maintaining revenue growth amid stabilizing market demand.
- Impact of Restructuring Costs: The quarter's restructuring and strategic transformation costs reduced earnings per share by $0.46; excluding these charges, adjusted earnings per share was $0.51, highlighting the short-term challenges and long-term potential during the transformation process.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates diluted earnings per share in Q2 to range between $0.91 and $1.01, factoring in a favorable currency impact of 5 cents and a 43% effective tax rate, reflecting management's cautiously optimistic view on future performance while aiming to enhance market share through ongoing strategic transformation.
See More
QSM Asset Management Acquires ManpowerGroup Shares
- Share Acquisition: QSM Asset Management acquired 197,104 shares of ManpowerGroup in Q1, with an estimated transaction value of $5.9 million, representing a 2.9% change in the fund's assets under management, indicating recognition of potential value in the company.
- Poor Market Performance: ManpowerGroup's stock has fallen approximately 37% over the past year, reflecting challenges in the global staffing industry, including slower hiring demand and macroeconomic uncertainty, resulting in underperformance against the broader market by 67 percentage points.
- Financial Condition Analysis: Despite a 7% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.7 billion in Q4 2025, adjusted earnings per share fell by 38%, highlighting the impact of restructuring charges and a difficult operating environment in Europe on profitability.
- Investor Confidence: QSM's acquisition suggests that at least one institutional investor believes the risk/reward profile is becoming attractive at current stock levels, even though a clear turning point has yet to be established.
See More
QSM Asset Management Acquires Stake in ManpowerGroup
- New Investment Position: QSM Asset Management established a new position in ManpowerGroup by acquiring 197,104 shares in Q1 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $5.9 million, indicating recognition of potential value in the company.
- Asset Allocation Insight: This acquisition represents 2.9% of QSM's 13F reportable assets under management as of March 31, 2026, highlighting its strategic significance within the fund's overall portfolio.
- Market Performance Analysis: ManpowerGroup's shares have fallen approximately 37% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by about 66 percentage points, reflecting challenges and uncertainties in the global staffing industry.
- Financial Overview: Despite a 7% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.7 billion in Q4 2025, ManpowerGroup's adjusted earnings per share fell by 38%, illustrating the company's struggles amid restructuring and a difficult operating environment in Europe.
See More
ManpowerGroup Projects Q2 Earnings Between $0.91 and $1.01
- Earnings Guidance: ManpowerGroup anticipates second-quarter earnings per share between $0.91 and $1.01, including a favorable currency impact of 5 cents, indicating the company's resilience against currency fluctuations, which could positively influence investor confidence.
- Tax Rate Impact: The company expects an effective tax rate of 43%, which will directly affect net income, reflecting strategic adjustments in tax management that may influence future profitability.
- Cost Savings Initiative: ManpowerGroup's global strategic transformation program is projected to deliver $200 million in permanent cost savings by 2028, enhancing the company's financial stability and providing funding for future investments.
- Stock Performance: As of Wednesday, ManpowerGroup's stock closed at $30.73 on the NYSE, up $1.50 or 5.13%, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future outlook.
See More
ManpowerGroup Q1 Earnings Report Analysis
- Earnings Miss: ManpowerGroup reported a Q1 GAAP EPS of $0.05, missing expectations by $0.45, indicating ongoing pressure on profitability that could affect investor confidence.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenues of $4.51 billion in Q1, a 10.3% year-over-year increase, surpassing market expectations by $100 million, reflecting a recovery in business demand and an increase in market share.
- Slight Share Price Increase: Despite the earnings miss, ManpowerGroup's shares rose by 1% in after-hours trading, indicating market recognition of its revenue growth, which may attract more investor interest.
- Positive Analyst Rating: Argus has assigned a bullish rating to ManpowerGroup, suggesting confidence in the company's future growth potential, which could further drive up the stock price.
See More
ManpowerGroup Reports Decline in Q1 Profit
- Profit Decline: ManpowerGroup reported a first-quarter net profit of $2.5 billion, translating to earnings per share of $0.05, which marks a significant drop from last year's $5.6 billion and $0.12 per share, indicating pressure on the company's profitability.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the profit decline, the company achieved a 10.3% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $4.51 billion compared to $4.09 billion last year, demonstrating resilience in its business and sustained market demand.
- Performance Comparison: The substantial drop in earnings per share compared to the previous year suggests that the company may face challenges in cost control and market competition, necessitating measures to improve profitability.
- Market Reaction: The significant profit decline could negatively impact investor confidence, especially against the backdrop of the company's efforts to maintain revenue growth, making future strategic adjustments crucial.
See More
ManpowerGroup Reports Decline in Q1 Net Earnings
- Net Earnings Decline: ManpowerGroup reported diluted net earnings of $0.05 per share for Q1 2026, a 58.3% drop from $0.12 in the prior year, with net earnings falling from $5.6 million to $2.5 million, indicating significant pressure on profitability.
- Revenue Growth: Despite the decline in net earnings, Q1 revenues reached $4.5 billion, a 10% increase year-over-year, demonstrating the company's resilience in maintaining revenue growth amid stabilizing market demand.
- Impact of Restructuring Costs: The quarter's restructuring and strategic transformation costs reduced earnings per share by $0.46; excluding these charges, adjusted earnings per share was $0.51, highlighting the short-term challenges and long-term potential during the transformation process.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates diluted earnings per share in Q2 to range between $0.91 and $1.01, factoring in a favorable currency impact of 5 cents and a 43% effective tax rate, reflecting management's cautiously optimistic view on future performance while aiming to enhance market share through ongoing strategic transformation.
See More
QSM Asset Management Acquires ManpowerGroup Shares
- Share Acquisition: QSM Asset Management acquired 197,104 shares of ManpowerGroup in Q1, with an estimated transaction value of $5.9 million, representing a 2.9% change in the fund's assets under management, indicating recognition of potential value in the company.
- Poor Market Performance: ManpowerGroup's stock has fallen approximately 37% over the past year, reflecting challenges in the global staffing industry, including slower hiring demand and macroeconomic uncertainty, resulting in underperformance against the broader market by 67 percentage points.
- Financial Condition Analysis: Despite a 7% year-over-year revenue increase to $4.7 billion in Q4 2025, adjusted earnings per share fell by 38%, highlighting the impact of restructuring charges and a difficult operating environment in Europe on profitability.
- Investor Confidence: QSM's acquisition suggests that at least one institutional investor believes the risk/reward profile is becoming attractive at current stock levels, even though a clear turning point has yet to be established.
See More
