The big picture: Employers are planning to increase hiring in the second half of 2026, yet nearly half continue to face significant challenges in filling open positions. This indicates a sustained demand for talent despite ongoing recruitment difficulties.

Why it matters: This persistent gap between hiring intent and fulfillment capacity signals continued pressure on talent acquisition teams and staffing agencies, impacting workforce planning and operational efficiency across industries.

Between the lines:

• A new Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey highlights these trends.
• Growing workloads, newly created positions, and employee turnover are primary drivers of increased demand.
• The struggle to fill roles persists even as hiring plans solidify for the latter half of 2026.

Staffing & HR impact: Staffing firms will see sustained demand for their services, but recruiter mobility and gross margins could be strained by the difficulty in sourcing qualified candidates. HR departments must double down on talent development and retention strategies to mitigate turnover.

The bottom line: The talent scarcity issue remains a defining characteristic of the labor market, requiring innovative solutions beyond 2026.