Most Hiring Managers Plan to Hire in 2026

A new Howdy.com survey of hiring managers across sectors found that 88% are hiring in 2026. 

The surveyed hiring managers reported:

• 26% only read the first 100 applications they receive.
• 56% said hiring has gotten more difficult in the last five years.
• 75% have been ghosted by applicants.

Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), 88% of hiring managers reported receiving job applications that clearly used AI and 38% rejected candidates due to AI use. One in five hiring managers in marketing even encountered a deepfake on an interview.

The top roles hiring managers plan to hire for include:

• Customer support (41%)
• Ops/logistics (33%)
• Tech support (25%)
• Sale/business development (23%)
• Marketing (22%)

Not surprisingly, 19% of hiring managers identified employee retention as one of their biggest ongoing challenges, with 31% citing compensation as the leading challenge with retention. Burnout and career growth are tied at 20% each, while work-life balance rounds out the top four at 15%. 

However, when it comes to making a hire, skillset edges out culture fit 61% to 39% across all industries.