65% of Indian employers plan to hire in Oct-Dec 2026: what the ManpowerGroup survey says
25 October 2026 · 2 min read · HireHo
Based on the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, Q4 2026. Summarised in our own words.
India is the most optimistic hiring market in the world for the October to December 2026 quarter, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. The survey spoke to 3,055 Indian employers.
The numbers
- 65% of employers plan to hire more people, up from 59% in the previous quarter.
- 24% expect no change in staff numbers.
- 11% expect to cut jobs.
- Net employment outlook (hiring plans minus cuts): 54%. That is 6 points higher than last quarter and 11 points higher than a year ago, and 25 points above the global average.
Which sectors
All nine sectors in the survey were positive. Finance and insurance scored 60%, hospitality 58% and information 57%. Hospitality had the biggest jump from the last quarter, up 21 points.
Company size
Employers with 1,000 to 4,999 staff were the most positive, at 58%. Only the smallest group, companies with 10 to 49 employees, went down, by 2 points.
Why employers are hiring
- 69% say changing roles and skills are the reason they are recruiting.
- 57% say hiring has become faster than a year ago, which the report links largely to AI use in recruitment.
What it means for you
Intent is not the same as an offer. A survey shows what employers plan, not how many jobs they will actually fill. Still, a strong hiring plan in the festive quarter is a good time to update your profile and CV, apply early and keep your phone reachable for interview calls.