For Q3 2026, the Asia Pacific & Middle East (APME) region recorded a seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of 28% – unchanged year-over-year, though down 10 points from the previous quarter. Across more than 13,100 employers surveyed in 11 countries and territories, hiring intentions remain broadly positive, with 43% of employers planning to grow their workforce between July and September. Anticipated increases are largely driven by company expansion, whilst expected decreases are attributed to wider economic challenges. The findings reflect a market that is holding steady overall, though significant variation exists across countries, sectors, and organisation sizes.
Key Findings
- Regional Variations: India leads the region with the strongest NEO of 48% – the highest both in APME and globally. China follows at 33%, with Vietnam at 28% (unadjusted). At the lower end, Hong Kong sits at -9%, the weakest result in the region.
- Year-Over-Year Movement: The APME average remained flat year-over-year (+0 points), underperforming the global average, which improved by 2 points over the same period.
- In-Demand Skills: AI Literacy tops the list of technical skills employers are most willing to pay a premium for (69%), followed closely by AI Model & App Development (68%) and Sales & Marketing (66%). The most valued soft skill is Communication & Teamwork (74%), ahead of Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving (71%) and Adaptability & Learning (70%).
- Industry Sector Performance: The Tech & IT Services specialty sector reported both the highest NEO (39%) and the most stable quarter-on-quarter result (+0 points). The Public Sector, Health & Social Services recorded the weakest NEO at 15%, dropping 14 points from the prior quarter.
- Productivity Strategy: Close to six in ten employers identified AI tools and upskilling as the primary drivers of workforce productivity gains over the past year. AI tools for daily tasks led the way at 63%, followed by AI tools for automated processes (60%) and AI tools for business strategy (58%).
- Company Size: Mid-to-large organisations with 1,000–4,999 employees reported both the strongest NEO (39%) and the most stable outlook quarter-on-quarter (+0 points). Micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees showed the weakest sentiment at 13%, falling 16 points from the previous quarter.
