Robert Half: Two-thirds of U.S. employers plan to increase hiring in second half of 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) reports that 66% of more than 2,000 surveyed U.S. hiring managers plan to increase permanent hiring in the second half of 2026, up from 60% in the first half and 57% a year earlier. In addition, 56% expect to hire contract professionals to access specialized skills and support key initiatives.
Hiring intentions are strongest in Denver (83%), Minneapolis (76%) and San Francisco (73%). By specialization, technology (78%), healthcare (75%), and finance and accounting (74%) lead planned permanent hiring. Despite this demand, 58% of employers say finding qualified talent is harder than a year ago, leading to project delays (63%) and cancellations (48%). Skills in shortest supply include industry-specific knowledge (47%), software proficiency (42%) and leadership abilities (40%). Many organizations are turning to staffing firms for specialized project skills (60%), urgent support (56%) and backfilling roles (48%).
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23 | second-quarter earnings | Negative | -6.8% | Lower quarterly revenue, net income, earnings per share, and operating results |
| Jul 16 | earnings schedule | Neutral | +1.1% | Company scheduled second-quarter earnings release and conference call |
| Jun 25 | sustainability recognition | Positive | +0.0% | TIME named Robert Half among the World's Most Sustainable Companies |
| Jun 25 | AI transformation survey | Neutral | +0.0% | Protiviti released survey findings on executive alignment and AI transformation |
| Jun 16 | workplace recognition | Positive | -0.3% | Robert Half received recognition as a Bay Area Best Place to Work |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
RHI's latest earnings announcement was followed by a sharp decline, while prior non-earnings news produced limited and mixed reactions.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Hiring plans climb to
66% , up from57% a year ago - Technology, healthcare, and finance and accounting lead hiring demand
Denver ,Minneapolis andSan Francisco topU.S . hiring markets
In a survey of more than 2,000
"Organizations are increasingly moving forward with strategic initiatives, but many recognize they need specialized talent to make those plans a reality," said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. "We're seeing employers invest in both permanent and contract professionals to access the expertise they need, maintain momentum and remain competitive."
Where hiring demand is strongest
Hiring plans vary by location and area of specialization, with several major
Hiring plans by city
Rank | City | Plans to increase permanent hiring |
1 | 83 % | |
2 | 76 % | |
3 | 73 % | |
4 | 69 % | |
5 | 69 % | |
6 | 66 % | |
7 | 65 % | |
8 | 64 % | |
9 | 63 % | |
10 | 63 % | |
11 | 59 % | |
12 | 57 % |
Hiring plans by specialization
Rank | Specialization | Plans to increase permanent hiring |
1 | Technology | 78 % |
2 | Healthcare | 75 % |
3 | Finance and accounting | 74 % |
4 | Marketing and creative | 65 % |
5 | Legal | 58 % |
6 | Human resources | 56 % |
7 | Administrative and customer support | 52 % |
Employers continue to face skills shortages
Despite growing hiring demand, employers continue to struggle to find professionals with the specialized skills they need. Nearly 6 in 10 hiring managers (
Skills shortages are also affecting business execution:
63% have experienced significant project delays.48% have canceled projects because they lacked the staff with the necessary skills.
The skills employers say are hardest to find include:
- Industry-specific knowledge (
47% ) - Software proficiency (
42% ) - Leadership abilities (
40% )
In response, organizations are turning to staffing firms for candidates with specialized project skills (
"When specialized talent is difficult to find, employers are expanding how they approach hiring," Fay said. "Partnering with a staffing firm gives organizations access to a broader network of skilled professionals, including contract talent who can make an immediate impact while companies continue recruiting for long-term needs."
For more insights into 2026 employment trends, including which professionals are hardest to hire and how to address hiring challenges, visit Robert Half's Demand for Skilled Talent report.
FAQ:
Why are organizations canceling or delaying projects?
Employers are struggling to find professionals with the specialized skills needed to complete critical work, which leads to delays, reprioritization and project cancellations.
Why is finding skilled talent difficult?
Many roles require specific qualifications such as industry knowledge, software proficiency, leadership abilities and relevant experience, which makes it harder to find suitable candidates.
How are companies addressing skills gaps?
Employers are using a mix of permanent hiring, contract talent and upskilling to bridge gaps and keep projects moving.
Which cities and industries have the strongest hiring demand?
Hiring demand is strongest in
About the research
The research is gathered from a survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in April 2026. The survey contains responses from more than 2,000 hiring managers in the United States.
About Robert Half
Robert Half (NYSE: RHI) is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. We offer contract talent and permanent placement solutions in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support, and we also provide executive search services. Robert Half is the parent company of Protiviti®, a global consulting firm that delivers internal audit, risk, business and technology consulting solutions. In the past 12 months, Robert Half, including Protiviti, has been named one of the Fortune® Most Admired Companies™ and 100 Best Companies to Work For. Explore talent solutions, research and insights at RobertHalf.com.
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SOURCE Robert Half