AI Drives Digital Skills Demand as U.S. Tech Hiring Outlook Shows Resilience

Rhea-AI Summary

ManpowerGroup's Experis (NYSE:MAN) released its Q4 2025 Tech Talent Outlook, revealing resilient U.S. tech hiring trends despite market cooling. The U.S. tech sector reported a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 46%, down 2 points from Q3 and 4 points year-over-year, but still 10 points above the global average.

58% of U.S. tech employers plan to increase headcount, while only 11% expect reductions. Notably, 24% of employers are hiring specifically for AI-related digital skills. The survey identifies top challenges including attracting qualified talent (41%), improving candidate experience (37%), and filling complex tech roles (36%).

Globally, Belgium (52%), India (48%), and Canada (47%) lead tech hiring expectations, with opportunities concentrated in AI implementation, cloud migration, and cybersecurity.

Positive

• Net Employment Outlook of 46% remains 10 points above global average
• 58% of U.S. tech employers plan to increase headcount in Q4 2025
• 24% of employers actively hiring for AI-related digital skills
• U.S. ranks among top countries globally for tech hiring expectations

Negative

• NEO declined 2 points from Q3 and 4 points year-over-year
• 41% of employers struggle with attracting qualified talent
• Tech sector hiring momentum has moderated globally due to economic uncertainty

Insights

Workforce Analytics Expert

ManpowerGroup's Experis report shows resilient U.S. tech hiring despite cooling, with AI driving significant demand for specialized digital skills.

The latest Experis Tech Talent Outlook reveals U.S. tech employment remains robust with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 46% for Q4 2025. While this represents a slight cooling—down 2% from Q3 and 4% year-over-year—it significantly outperforms the global average by 10%.

The data points to a nuanced labor market rather than broad-based weakness. 58% of U.S. tech employers plan to increase headcount this quarter, with only 11% expecting reductions. Particularly noteworthy is that 24% of employers are specifically hiring to keep pace with AI and other digital advancements.

This report highlights three critical challenges facing tech employers: attracting qualified talent (41%), improving candidate experience (37%), and filling complex tech roles (36%). These metrics suggest a persistent skills gap rather than diminishing demand.

For ManpowerGroup's Experis division, which specializes in IT staffing and solutions, these findings indicate continued strong demand for their services despite economic uncertainty. The emphasis on high-complexity skills like AI implementation, cloud migration, and cybersecurity aligns perfectly with Experis's premium staffing focus and suggests potential for higher-margin placements.

The global context provides additional perspective, with Belgium (52%), India (48%), and Canada (47%) showing slightly stronger outlooks than the U.S. These international variations highlight both opportunities and challenges for ManpowerGroup's global operations.

Experis survey: U.S. tech sector remains one of the strongest globally, with one in four employers hiring for digital skills in Q4

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. tech hiring is cooling compared to last year but remains one of the labor market's bright spots. According to Experis' latest Tech Talent Outlook, tech employers in the U.S. report a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 46% for the fourth quarter of 2025 — down two points from Q3 and four points year-over-year, yet still ten points above the global average (36%) and among the top hiring outlooks worldwide.

More than half (58%) of U.S. tech employers expect to increase headcount this quarter, while just 11% anticipate reductions. Nearly one in four employers (24%) say they are hiring specifically to keep pace with digital advancements such as artificial intelligence, underscoring how demand for digital skills is reshaping the labor market even amid broader economic uncertainty.

"When we look at the labor market, there is a more complex picture than some of the headlines suggest. There are pockets of caution, but tech continues to stand out," said Kye Mitchell, President of Experis U.S. "The story isn't that jobs are vanishing, it's that the bar for skills is rising. AI is part of that story, but not as a replacement for people. The real challenge is the skills mismatch, and companies know they need to invest in the right talent to stay competitive."

Top Challenges for U.S. Tech Employers

• Attracting qualified talent (41%)
• Improving candidate experience (37%)
• Filling complex tech roles (36%)

Globally, Belgium (52%), India (48%), and Canada (47%) lead tech hiring expectations, with the U.S. close behind at 46%. The worldwide tech sector has moderated by 2 points from the previous quarter and remained flat compared to the same period last year, reflecting broader economic uncertainty, though significant regional variations persist across established tech hubs.

For job seekers with in-demand digital skills, this sustained hiring momentum creates significant opportunities — particularly in areas like AI implementation, cloud migration, and cybersecurity, where employers are prioritizing long-term transformation.

To view the Q4 2025 Experis Tech Talent Outlook, including U.S. and global findings, visit www.experis.com/en/insights/articles/tech-talent-outlook. The next report, covering Q1 2026 hiring expectations, will be released in December 2025.

ABOUT THE SURVEY
This research is based on results from the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey — the longest running, most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key labor market indicator. ManpowerGroup interviewed 6,533 IT employers across 42 countries on hiring intentions for the fourth quarter of 2025.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
Survey responses were collected from July 1-31, 2025. Size of organization and sector are standardized across all countries and territories to allow international comparisons.

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2025 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th time – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Bluesky.

ABOUT EXPERIS
Experis ® is the global leader in IT Professional Resourcing and IT Services. Experis accelerates growth for organizations by attracting, assessing, and placing specialized technology talent into in-demand roles, delivering mission-critical projects that enhance the competitiveness of the organizations and the people we serve. Through Experis Academy, we provide intensive "business-ready" training and coaching to new graduates, as well as customized skills development to prepare existing employees for high-demand tech roles. Experis is part of the ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN) family of brands, which also includes Manpower and Talent Solutions.

For more information, visit www.experis.com, or follow us on LinkedIn.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding labor demand in certain regions, countries and industries, and economic uncertainty. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These factors include those found in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, whose information is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.

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SOURCE ManpowerGroup

FAQ

What is the U.S. tech hiring outlook for Q4 2025 according to Experis?

The U.S. tech sector shows a Net Employment Outlook of 46%, with 58% of employers planning to increase headcount and only 11% anticipating reductions.

How does ManpowerGroup's Q4 2025 U.S. tech outlook compare to global markets?

The U.S. tech outlook (46%) is 10 points above the global average of 36%, ranking behind Belgium (52%), India (48%), and Canada (47%).

What percentage of U.S. employers are hiring for AI-related skills in Q4 2025?

24% of U.S. employers are hiring specifically to keep pace with digital advancements such as artificial intelligence.

What are the main challenges facing U.S. tech employers in Q4 2025?

The top challenges are attracting qualified talent (41%), improving candidate experience (37%), and filling complex tech roles (36%).

How has ManpowerGroup's tech hiring outlook changed from Q3 2025?

The Net Employment Outlook decreased by 2 points from Q3 2025 and is down 4 points year-over-year.