Most Hiring Managers Plan to Hire in 2026
March 26, 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.
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