Navigating the Now and Next: ManpowerGroup Advances Action Around AI and Workforce Readiness at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos

Rhea-AI Summary

ManpowerGroup (NYSE:MAN) will join the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos Jan 19–23, 2026 to present workforce solutions for AI-driven change. Key figures highlighted include 70% of job skills expected to change by 2030 and 55% of employees reporting no workplace training in the past year. ManpowerGroup will host panels and launch SmartStart USA, aiming to train 1 million young people for advanced manufacturing by 2035.

The company will release The Human Edge report (surveys of >12,000 workers and 40,000 employers across 41 countries), a Global Talent Barometer noting 64% of workers intend to stay while awaiting upskilling and a 4-point dip in confidence, and a Talent Shortage Survey showing 72% of employers struggle to find skilled talent.

News Market Reaction

-2.91%

1 alert

-2.91% News Effect

On the day this news was published, MAN declined 2.91%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Skill change share: 70% No training share: 55% SmartStart USA goal: 1 million young people +5 more

8 metrics

Skill change share 70% Skills for the average job expected to change by 2030

No training share 55% Employees reporting no workplace training in the past year

SmartStart USA goal 1 million young people Target to equip for advanced manufacturing and supply chains by 2035

Future of Work trends 16 trends Identified in The Human Edge: Global Future of Work Trends report

Driving forces 4 forces Hybrid Super Teams, Rapid Relearning, Changing Norms, Succession Crisis

Worker survey size 12,000 workers Workers surveyed for The Human Edge report

Employer survey size 40,000 employers Employers surveyed across 41 countries

Employers with talent shortages 72% Employers worldwide struggling to find skilled talent

Market Reality Check

Price: $30.40 Vol: Volume 809,336 is slightl...

normal vol

$30.40 Last Close

Volume Volume 809,336 is slightly below the 20-day average of 878,150 (relative volume 0.92). normal

Technical Shares at $30.97 trade below the 200-day MA of $38.25 and are 51.11% under the 52-week high, while still 18.48% above the 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

MAN gained 1.41% with modest volume, while peers were mixed: BBSI +0.28%, HSII f...

MAN gained 1.41% with modest volume, while peers were mixed: BBSI +0.28%, HSII flat, KELYB up 9.88%, NSP up 1.25%, KFRC up 1.5%. No peers appeared in the momentum scanner, suggesting today’s move was more stock-specific than a broad staffing-sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 05 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 05	Earnings date notice	Neutral	-0.2%	Announcement of Q4 2025 earnings release and webcast timings.
Dec 09	Labor outlook survey	Neutral	-0.9%	Q1 2026 Employment Outlook Survey outlining global hiring expectations.
Nov 20	Brand license deal	Positive	-2.1%	Brand license agreement expanding Manpower-branded services in Saudi Arabia.
Nov 11	Workforce partnership	Positive	+6.5%	Partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges for semiconductor and manufacturing talent.
Nov 10	Dividend declaration	Positive	-3.7%	Declaration of a <b>$0.72</b> semi-annual dividend to shareholders.

Pattern Detected

Recent history shows mixed reactions: some positive strategic or partnership news aligned with gains, while other favorable announcements, including dividends and international agreements, coincided with share declines.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, ManpowerGroup has focused on investor communication, labor market insights, and strategic partnerships. An earnings date announcement on Jan 5, 2026 had little price impact. Surveys on global employment outlook in Dec 2025 and licensing or workforce-development agreements in Nov 2025 highlighted its role in labor markets, with one semiconductor workforce partnership on Nov 11, 2025 aligning with a 6.55% rise. A $0.72 dividend declaration on Nov 10, 2025 was followed by a -3.73% move, showing that shareholder-friendly news has not always led to immediate gains.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores ManpowerGroup’s strategy at the intersection of AI and workforce readi...

Analysis

This announcement underscores ManpowerGroup’s strategy at the intersection of AI and workforce readiness, highlighting Davos events, large-scale research on 12,000 workers and 40,000 employers, and initiatives like training 1 million young people by 2035. In context of past AI-tag releases, it extends a consistent message on skills gaps and talent scarcity. Investors may watch how these thought-leadership efforts connect to staffing demand, pricing, and upcoming earnings on Jan 29, 2026.

Key Terms

artificial intelligence, ai

2 terms

artificial intelligence technical

"As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, a critical gap is emerging."

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. For investors, it matters because AI can enhance efficiency, uncover new insights, and enable smarter strategies, potentially impacting the value and performance of companies that develop or utilize this technology.

ai technical

"The impact of AI will be determined less by the capability of technology..."

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Bringing the Human Edge to AI Transformation, the global workforce leader joins world leaders to advance practical solutions and close the skills gap.

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As artificial intelligence reshapes every industry, a critical gap is emerging. Seventy percent of the skills needed for the average job are expected to change by 2030, yet 55% of employees say they received no workplace training in the past year.

At this pivotal moment, ManpowerGroup will join world leaders at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland from January 19–23 to share workforce insights and practical solutions that help organizations navigate the dual challenge of running today's business while preparing their people for tomorrow.

"The impact of AI will be determined less by the capability of technology and more by the skills, process design and culture of the organizations that deploy it," said Jonas Prising, Chair & CEO of ManpowerGroup. "At the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting this week, we will focus on how to keep humans at the heart of AI, using technology to augment, not replace, human capability. Avoiding jobless growth requires leadership that can turn AI potential into real economic and human progress. That starts with investing in skills, redesigning work, and enabling people to grow alongside technology so businesses, workers, and societies can all move forward together."

Key ManpowerGroup Events at Davos: Where Policy, Business, and Work Converge

• Preventing Jobless Growth
  Wednesday, January 21, 9:15 AM CET
  Congress Centre, Aspen 2 | Livestreamed
  
  Prising will join European Commission Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis, Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S., AFL-CIO President Elizabeth Shuler, UC Berkeley economist Laura D'Andrea Tyson, and Stanford Digital Economy Lab Director Erik Brynjolfsson for a livestreamed discussion on how leaders can ensure AI-driven productivity gains translate into shared prosperity.
  
  
• Closing the Manufacturing Talent Gap in the U.S. and Beyond
  Wednesday, January 21, 11:00 AM CET
  Kurpark Village, Briefing Centre
  
  ManpowerGroup President & Chief Strategy Officer Becky Frankiewicz will join U.S. Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Rockwell Automation Chairman & CEO Blake Moret, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, and Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra for the public launch of SmartStart USA, a national initiative to equip 1 million young people with the skills needed to power advanced manufacturing and supply chains by 2035. The initiative responds to mounting workforce gaps that threaten long-term manufacturing competitiveness in the U.S. and globally.
  
  
• Leadership for the Next Decade
  Wednesday, January 21, 12:30 PM CET
  CNBC House, Promenade 68
  
  Prising will join EY Global Chair & CEO Janet Truncale and MIT Professor & Future of Life Institute President Max Tegmark for a live discussion on how leaders are building resilient, future-ready workforces as technology, demographics, and global uncertainty redefine how and where we work. The session will be moderated by CNBC's Carolin Roth.
  
  
• The Human Edge: Leading People and Technology Through the Now and Next
  Wednesday, January 21, 3:30 PM CET
  Ice Village, Dome 1
  
  In ManpowerGroup's signature session, Frankiewicz will host a leadership debate exploring how organizations can keep their workforce match fit as AI becomes part of the team. Moderated by former CNBC Lead Anchor Geoff Cutmore, the conversation will feature Schneider Electric Executive Vice President Frédéric Godemel, Cisco EVP and Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer Francine Katsoudas, and SAP Industries & Experiences President Andre Bechtold.
  
  
• Shaping the Future: Leadership, Innovation, and Trust in the Age of AI Transformation
  Wednesday, January 21, 4:00 PM CET
  Mountain Plaza Hotel, Davos
  
  ManpowerGroup Chief Growth Officer Valerie Beaulieu-James will join a panel moderated by Global Women in Tech President & Founder Simona Şandru, alongside NEOM Chief Investment Officer Dr. Manar Al Moneef, EY Global Vice Chair Julie Linn Teigland, Euroclear Chief Risk Officer Florine Moraes, and JA Europe CEO Diana Filip. The discussion will explore how leaders can drive inclusive, sustainable growth in an AI-first world.

New Research
During the week, ManpowerGroup will unveil The Human Edge: Global Future of Work Trends, a comprehensive report identifying 16 trends across four driving forces—Hybrid Super Teams, Rapid Relearning, Changing Norms, and The Succession Crisis—shaping the workforce in 2026 and beyond. Drawing on insights from surveys of more than 12,000 workers and 40,000 employers across 41 countries, the report provides actionable guidance for leaders navigating AI integration, talent scarcity, and evolving workplace expectations.

The company will also release findings from its 2026 Global Talent Barometer, which reveals a workforce in wait mode—cautious, committed, but uncertain. The data highlights a shift toward job hugging, with 64% of workers saying they plan to stay with their current employer while waiting for a clearer bridge between their current skills and future opportunities. The research also shows worker confidence has dipped four percentage points for the first time in three years, signaling that burnout and uncertainty remain elevated.

Additionally, ManpowerGroup will share data from the forthcoming 2026 Talent Shortage Survey, confirming that 72% of employers worldwide continue to struggle to find the skilled talent they need, reinforcing that talent scarcity is a persistent structural challenge rather than a short-term economic cycle.

For updates, insights, and to follow ManpowerGroup at the World Economic Forum's 2026 Annual Meeting, visit go.manpowergroup.com/wef

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.

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SOURCE ManpowerGroup

FAQ

When will ManpowerGroup (MAN) present at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos 2026?

ManpowerGroup will present at multiple sessions during Jan 19–23, 2026, with several flagship events on Jan 21, 2026.

What is SmartStart USA announced by ManpowerGroup at Davos and what is its goal?

SmartStart USA is a national initiative launching at Davos that aims to equip 1 million young people with advanced manufacturing and supply chain skills by 2035.

What key workforce trends does ManpowerGroup's The Human Edge report (2026) cover?

The report identifies 16 trends across four forces: Hybrid Super Teams, Rapid Relearning, Changing Norms, and The Succession Crisis, based on surveys of workers and employers.

What did ManpowerGroup's 2026 Global Talent Barometer find about worker sentiment?

The Barometer found 64% of workers plan to stay with their current employer while awaiting upskilling and reported a 4-point drop in confidence versus prior measures.

How widespread is the talent shortage according to ManpowerGroup's 2026 data?

ManpowerGroup's Talent Shortage Survey indicates 72% of employers worldwide report difficulty finding skilled talent.

Which ManpowerGroup executives will speak at Davos and what topics will they cover?

Jonas Prising, Becky Frankiewicz, Valerie Beaulieu-James and other leaders will discuss AI and workforce readiness, manufacturing talent, leadership, and inclusive growth at scheduled Davos sessions.