Hiring picks up slightly worldwide, but AI isn’t making it faster

While demand for new technological skills may be driving some hiring, AI doesn’t appear to be speeding up the hiring process for most companies worldwide. Only 28% say their average time-to-hire has become faster compared with 2025, while 41% say it has remained about the same and 30% say it has become slower, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest Employment Outlook Survey. The survey of 39,878 employers across 42 countries finds that 43% of employers globally plan to increase staffing in Q4, while 41% expect staffing levels to remain unchanged and 14% anticipate reductions. Among those adding staff, 62% cite changing roles and skills as the primary driver.