Three-quarters (75 per cent) of global employers say they’re struggling to find talent with the skills they need, according to a new survey by ManpowerGroup.
The survey, which polled more than 40,000 employers, found the majority reported difficulty filling open roles, with employers in Japan (85 per cent) and Canada (80 per cent) among the most likely to report recruitment issues.
The ‘net employment outlook’ — calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions to staffing levels from those who plan to hire — stood at 26 per cent. While global outlooks decreased by four per cent since the fourth quarter of 2023, they increased by three per cent compared to the third quarter of 2023.
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The strongest hiring intentions were anticipated by employers in North America (34 per cent), followed by Asia Pacific (30 per cent), South and Central America (28 per cent) and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (23 per cent). By country, the strongest hiring plans were reported in India and the Netherlands (both 37 per cent). In the Americas, employers in Costa Rica, the U.S. (35 per cent each) and Mexico (34 per cent) reported the strongest hiring intentions for the first quarter of 2023, with Canada trailing at 25 per cent.
The information technology industry had the brightest global hiring outlook at 36 per cent, followed by financials and real estate at 34 per cent and communication services at 31 per cent.
“The latest survey reveals that while employer hiring confidence has moderated slightly amid global economic concerns, labour markets remain tight and demand for skilled talent is still strong across multiple sectors,” said Jonas Prising, chairman and chief executive officer of ManpowerGroup, in a press release. “This data suggests organizations are committed to offering flexible work options, recognizing this can give them a competitive edge for attracting and retaining workers. As AI adoption gains traction, employers are turning to upskilling their workforce to maximize potential productivity gains.”