India Findings

Executive Summary

3100+

employers across India reported a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO)

48%

as they forecast Q3 staffing changes in the latest edition of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey.

56%

Organizations with 1000-4999 employees

- 20 Points

quarter-on-quarter (QoQ)

+ 6 Points

year-over-year (YoY)

Q3 Employer Hiring Sentiment

Understanding the Survey

More than 3100 employers in India

shared whether their staffing levels would remain unchanged, increase through new hiring, or decrease due to layoffs or anticipated departures.

What Is It?

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the world’s most comprehensive and forward-looking employment survey, serving as a trusted labor market indicator since 1962.

What Sets It Apart

The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) measures the % difference between expected increases and decreases in staffing for the quarter.

The Equation

Q3 2026

Net Employment Outlook Results

Hiring sentiment is quantified using the Net Employment Outlook (NEO), defined as the difference between the percentage of employers planning to increase staff and those planning to reduce staff.

The third quarter NEO is 48%, unchanged after seasonal adjustment to remove predictable patterns. Seasonally adjusted figures are used throughout the remainder of this report unless otherwise noted.

NEO result Q3 2026

Changes Over Time

The Q3 2026 Global Net Employment Outlook decreased since the previous quarter (-20 points) but improved year-over-year (+6).

The Q3 2026 Net Employment Outlook
About the Survey

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. Running since 1962, various factors underpin the success of the Survey:

  • It is unparalleled in its size, scope, longevity and area of focus.

  • The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world, asking employers to forecast employment over the next quarter. In contrast, other surveys and studies focus on retrospective data to report on what occurred in the past.

  • The survey is conducted with a representative sample of employers from throughout the countries and territories in which it is conducted. The survey participants are not derived from ManpowerGroup’s customer base.

  • The Q3 2026 survey is based on interviews with 40,592 public and private employers across 42 countries to measure anticipated employment changes and trends.
  • This sample allows for analysis to be performed across specific sectors and regions to provide more detailed information.

  • For more than six decades the survey has derived all of its information from a single question (Q3 2026 example):

  • “How do you anticipate total employment at your location to change in the three months to the end of September 2026 as compared to the current quarter?"

The data for the third quarter was collected between April 1-30, 2026. The findings reflect employer sentiment at the time of data collection and may not capture the potential impact of subsequent events. The size of organizations and sectors are standardized across all countries to allow international comparisons.

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, 2025, 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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