Employers Plan to Hire in Late 2026 — But Nearly Half Can't Fill the Roles They Already Have
U.S. employers are heading into the back half of 2026 with hiring confidence largely intact, according to a new Express Employment Professionals–Harris Poll survey — but a widening talent gap is complicating those plans. While 84% of hiring managers feel positive about their company's hiring outlook for the rest of the year (barely changed from 85% in fall 2025), a growing share admit they simply cannot find the workers they need.
When asked to characterize their mood, employers most often reached for upbeat language: 54% called themselves optimistic, 52% confident, and 49% hopeful. That sentiment is carrying through to headcount plans, though at a slightly cooler pace — 60% of companies intend to add employees, down from 66% in fall 2025, and nearly one in five (19%) expect significant increases.
The gap between open jobs and available talent is, in Funk's words, "not something businesses can afford to ignore."
— Bob Funk Jr., CEO, President & Chairman, Express Employment InternationalThe Mismatch Hits a Multi-Year High
Beneath the optimism sits a stubborn structural problem. 44% of hiring managers say their company currently has open positions it cannot fill — a sharp jump from 36% in fall 2025 and the highest level recorded since spring 2023. The finding suggests that hiring plans are being propelled by genuine operational necessity rather than optimism alone: companies need people to keep the work moving, yet the candidates arriving at their doors don't match the roles sitting open.
The right candidate may not walk in fully formed — but with real training and support, potential can be shaped into fit.
— Paraphrasing the survey's central message to employers and job seekersWhat It Means for Employers and Job Seekers
The takeaway cuts both ways. For job seekers, the shortage is an opening: building capabilities in the areas where employers are struggling most translates directly into leverage. For companies, the data argues for a shift in posture — investing in candidates who show promise and closing skill gaps through training, rather than holding out for ready-made hires who may never appear.
The Job Insights survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 13 and June 1, 2026, among 1,006 U.S. hiring decision-makers. Additional workforce research from the America Employed series is available through the Express Employment Professionals newsroom.
Confidence holds steady. 84% of U.S. hiring managers feel positive about their hiring outlook for the rest of 2026, essentially flat versus 85% in fall 2025.
Hiring plans cool slightly. 60% of companies plan to grow headcount, down from 66% last fall — though 19% still expect significant increases.
The talent gap is widening. 44% of hiring managers report open roles they cannot fill — up from 36% in fall 2025 and the highest share since spring 2023.
Need, not just optimism. Hiring intentions are being driven by operational demands, signaling real workforce pressure rather than sentiment alone.
Skills are the bridge. Job seekers gain leverage by building in-demand capabilities, while employers are urged to train high-potential candidates into the right fit.