Key takeaways:

• Employers remain cautious despite recovering CEO confidence — most hiring managers still expect a recession and companies are proactively cutting costs, streamlining processes, and limiting hiring.

• Economic uncertainty is fueling workforce innovation — demand is rising for training, upskilling, and flexible staffing solutions, creating opportunities beyond traditional placement.

• Staffing agencies can gain a strategic edge by embracing flexibility, preparing for potential volume surges, and offering value-added workforce planning and development services.

While CEO confidence is recovering, hiring managers remain deeply concerned about recession risks, creating a cautious but active market for staffing services.

Only 36% of CEOs now expect a recession within 12 to 18 months……