By Veronica Blatt
Are you ready for the coming changes in the recruitment landscape? As the industry continues to advance rapidly, staying ahead of market trends is essential for success. In our recent February 2026 Business Barometer survey, we gathered insights from our membership to find out what the next six months will look like for recruiters and employers.
Flexibility in key areas
Over the past 180 days, the recruitment market has presented a variety of challenges. For many it was difficult to secure both candidates and jobs. Nevertheless, some sectors have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Have you noticed continued demand in manufacturing, supply chain, technology, and accounting and finance? In line with trends over the past two years, these sectors remain the strongest drivers of recruitment activity.
A positive outlook on the horizon
While nearly one-third of our respondents have experienced a recent decline in business, the future looks very bright. Nearly two-thirds of the companies surveyed expect positive changes in the short term. We’ve been seeing steady growth in shared job postings since the beginning of the year.
Our survey respondents represent a truly global perspective, reflecting business activity in the following geographic markets:
- 61% are based in North America, with 63% reporting that the majority of their business is conducted there.
- Australia and New Zealand account for 17% of the respondents.
- Asia represents 15% of our respondents.
- EMEA accounts for 13% of our respondents.
Additionally, 65% of responding companies manage a balanced mix of both client and candidate business.
power of strategic partnership
As the market continues to boom, collaboration remains a key strategy. It is noteworthy that half of the survey respondents expect their worldwide NPA activity to increase in the next six months. As candidates are hard to find in most sectors and jobs are slowly coming back, members continue to rely on their partners for assistance. As the labor picture strengthens, recruiters with strong partner networks are well-positioned for the recovery.
Are you ready to adapt to a tightening labor market? Keep an eye out for our next Business Barometer survey coming in August 2026 and subscribe to our blog for more data-driven industry insights.
