Employers Plan to Hire in Second Half of 2026, but Nearly Half Can’t Fill Open Roles
Employers are heading into the second half of 2026 with plans to hire, but many are still struggling to find the workers they need. A new Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey found 84% of U.S. hiring managers feel positive about their company’s hiring outlook for the remainder of 2026, nearly unchanged from 85% in the fall of 2025. Employers most commonly describe their outlook as optimistic (54%), confident (52%) and hopeful (49%). That positivity is translating into hiring plans, though
Express Survey Finds AI’s Real Workplace Debate Is No Longer Whether to Use It — It’s Where to Stop
As AI use spreads across the workplace, new data suggests the bigger question may no longer be whether companies will use it, but where they still want people involved. According to an Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey, 90% of U.S. hiring managers say AI will never replace the need for actual employees at their company, and 92% say their company is committed to preserving a human element in the workplace. Workers are largely in step. Among employed job seekers whose company uses AI,
