Hiring Outlook Remains Positive; 45% Companies Plan To Recruit In FY26: Report

The hiring outlook for this financial year remained positive as 45% of employers interviewed said they plan to hire for new permanent positions, a report said on Saturday.

A significant 45% of employers plan to hire for new permanent positions, while 13% plan to replace manpower in their existing positions, workforce solutions and HR services provider Genius Consultants said in a report - Hiring, Compensation & Attrition Management Outlook Survey for 2025-26.

The report is based on insights from 1,520 CXOs and senior-level dignitaries of organisations across various industries for the upcoming financial year.

The report further revealed that the growth of the importance of temporary hiring is widely visible, as 26% of the employers focus on temporary, contractual, or project-based roles.

However, 16% of organisations indicated no hiring plans for financial year 2026, highlighting a cautious approach.

When asked about the primary focus of hiring, the report found that 37% of employers said they aim to recruit mid-level professionals, while 26% said they are shifting towards gig workers, contract-based roles, and advisory positions.

This confirms the trend shift in industries towards flexible staffing.

Meanwhile, entry-level hiring accounts for 19%, and senior leadership recruitment stands at 18%, said the report.

Projected workforce growth reflects a balanced strategy with 53% of organisations foreseeing moderate hiring growth between 5-10%, while 33% planning a substantial hiring increase exceeding 10-15%, it added.

Among industries, the retail, e-commerce and Q-commerce sector (21%) is expected to experience the highest manpower recruitment, due to which, recruitment requirements in Logistics and Warehousing are also expected to grow, as confirmed by 9% of the respondents.

Around 15% of employers expect higher recruitment in automobiles and EV, as 11% predict the rise of recruitment needs in the renewables, energy and engineering projects.

IT Services, telecom and technology (13%), manufacturing, engineering and production (11%), infra, transport and real estate (10%), and BSFI (9%) sectors are also set to experience a growth in talent needs.

Meanwhile, sectors such as FMCG and FMCD, Healthcare, Hospitality, Media and Entertainment, and Education report minimal hiring activity in this fiscal, it said.

'While organizations are navigating economic uncertainties, the demand for skilled talent remains strong. With mid-senior professionals in high demand, businesses must focus on retention strategies to mitigate attrition risks. These insights will help corporates adapt their talent management approach effectively for 2025-26,' Genius Consultants Chairman and Managing Director R P Yadav added.