Hiring plans are strong as 2026 unfolds, but headwinds remain as companies navigate budget constraints and lingering financial uncertainties.
The information comes from a Resume.org survey of 1,000 U.S. hiring managers conducted in December. The resume platform company surveyed managers from a range of industries—including logistics, supply chain, and manufacturing—and found that 92% of respondents plan to hire more staff this year, with many saying they will move quickly: 86% said their companies plan to hire in the first quarter, and another 6% said they will do so by the end of 2026.
Companies that are holding back cited financial caution as the main reason, pointing to budget constraints (48%), revenue uncertainty (39%), and pressure to control costs (38%) as top barriers, according to the report.
The survey also found that layoffs will remain widespread in 2026: Nearly half of those surveyed—48%—said they will definitely (17%) or probably (31%) conduct layoffs in the first quarter, and another 8% said they expect layoffs later this year. Companies cited AI (44%), reorganization/restructuring (42%), and budget constraints (39%) as the primary drivers behind the expected cuts, “suggesting that layoffs are not tied to a single factor but are part of broader restructuring and cost-control strategies,” according to the report.
“What we are seeing is workforce rebalancing,” Resume.org’s Head of Career Advising, Kara Dennison, said in a statement announcing the survey results. “Companies are laying off in areas that no longer align with near-term priorities while hiring aggressively in functions tied to revenue, transformation, and efficiency.”
Dennison added that most companies are reducing roles that are higher-cost, slower to yield ROI (return-on-investment), or misaligned with new operating models.
“That often includes layers of middle management, duplicated functions after reorganizations, and roles tied to legacy processes,” Dennison also said in the statement. “At the same time, they’re investing in roles that support growth, automation, data, customer retention, and execution speed.”
For job seekers, the takeaway is that hiring is happening, but it is highly selective, as companies are buying capability, flexibility, and impact, not titles or tenure, Dennison said.
The survey found that companies are primarily seeking candidates that are able to solve problems, have the ability to learn new tools and technologies quickly, and have good communication skills.
Taking a closer look at AI, the survey found that although it is affecting staffing needs the technology is also being used as an excuse to make hiring freezes or layoffs more palatable—particularly when the real reason for cuts is financial. Nearly six in 10 companies report blaming AI for cutbacks.
“AI has become an explanation because it sounds strategic, forward-looking, and inevitable. AI suggests progress rather than problems,” Dennison said. “Saying roles are being affected by AI signals innovation and modernization, while acknowledging financial strain can raise concerns among investors, employees, and customers.”
Just 9% of survey respondents said AI has fully replaced certain roles, for example, and 45% said it has partially reduced the need for new hires. Another 45% reported that AI has had little to no effect on staffing levels.
