MENLO PARK, Calif. — American businesses are ramping up their recruiting engines for the second half of 2026, with two-thirds of U.S. employers planning to expand their permanent headcount.
According to new research released Wednesday by talent solutions firm Robert Half, 66% of hiring managers intend to add permanent staff between July and December. That marks a notable jump from 60% in the first half of the year and 57% during the same period in 2025.
To maintain momentum on key business initiatives, more than half of employers (56%) also plan to bring on contract professionals to plug immediate skill gaps.
“Organizations are increasingly moving forward with strategic initiatives, but many recognize they need specialized talent to make those plans a reality,” said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. “We’re seeing employers invest in both permanent and contract professionals to access the expertise they need, maintain momentum and remain competitive.”
Tech and Healthcare Drive Demand; Denver Tops City Rankings
The nationwide surge in hiring demand is largely propelled by high-growth sectors and major metropolitan hubs:
- Top Industries: The tech sector leads the pack, with 78% of tech leaders planning to add permanent roles. Healthcare (75%) and Finance & Accounting (74%) follow closely behind, while Administrative & Customer Support (52%) sits at the lower end of the expansion spectrum.
- Top Regional Markets: Denver tops all U.S. markets with a staggering 83% of hiring managers planning to increase permanent staff, followed by Minneapolis (76%) and San Francisco (73%).
H2 2026 Hiring Intentions by Sector & Location
| Top Cities | % Expansion | Top Specializations | % Expansion |
| Denver | 83% | Technology | 78% |
| Minneapolis | 76% | Healthcare | 75% |
| San Francisco | 73% | Finance & Accounting | 74% |
| Houston / Seattle | 69% | Marketing & Creative | 65% |
| Boston | 66% | Legal | 58% |
The Talent Bottleneck: Projects Delayed and Canceled
Despite widespread willingness to hire, finding qualified talent remains a steep uphill battle. Nearly 60% of hiring managers reported that finding skilled candidates is harder today than it was a year ago.
The talent crunch is directly hindering business operations:
- 63% of managers report experiencing significant project delays due to staffing shortages.
- 48% have been forced to cancel projects altogether because they lacked employees with the required skill sets.
The hardest-to-find skill sets include industry-specific knowledge (47%), software proficiency (42%), and leadership abilities (40%).
To bridge the gap, companies are increasingly turning to external talent solutions for specialized project support, urgent help, and backfilling internal roles while continuing their long-term recruiting efforts.