More than 13,200 employers across 11 Asia Pacific and Middle East countries and territories shared their hiring intentions for the second quarter of 2026. The seasonally adjusted Net Employment Outlook (NEO) stands at 38%, reflecting improved confidence both quarter-on-quarter (+7 points) and year-over-year (+10 points).
- India leads the region with the strongest NEO at 68% and the greatest quarterly improvement (+16 points)
- The Information sector recorded the highest industry NEO at 52%, up 14 points from the previous quarter
- Large organisations (5,000+ employees) report the most positive outlook at 47%, whilst mid-sized firms (250–999 employees) showed the strongest quarterly gain (+11 points)
- 49% of employers plan to increase staffing levels between April and June, with company expansion cited as the primary driver
- 91% of organisations report workforce challenges in adopting AI, led by privacy and regulatory concerns (14%), skill gaps (11%), and insufficient training (10%)
- Employers identify Learning & Development as the area where AI delivers the greatest return on investment (26%)
- Ideas & Creativity and Problem Solving are the skills most likely to be augmented by AI over the next 12 months (both 81%)
Data was collected between 1 January and 3 February 2026, prior to geopolitical developments in the Middle East in late February. Findings reflect employer sentiment at the time of collection.
