Brazil Ranks Third Globally in Hiring Intentions for Q2 2026 with Finance Leading

Brazil is demonstrating strong employment prospects for the second quarter of 2026, with 63% of its companies planning to increase hiring, according to the ManpowerGroup's Q2 2026 Employment Outlook Survey. This places Brazil third worldwide by Net Employment Outlook at 55%, following India at 68% and the United Arab Emirates at 60%. Nilson Pereira, ManpowerGroup Brazil's country manager, emphasized that despite a moderate economic environment, Brazilian companies remain focused on recruiting talent to drive business growth and transformation.

The survey spotlights the Finance & Insurance sector as the most active in recruitment, with 68% of organizations intending to hire more professionals. It is followed by the Information sector at 67% and Commerce & Logistics at 57%. Regionally, São Paulo leads hiring expectations, where 61% of companies plan new admissions.

The survey also reveals challenges related to the incorporation of artificial intelligence within HR processes. A significant 86% of Brazilian firms report difficulties, citing privacy concerns, regulation issues, skill gaps, and employee resistance. Despite this, only 21% of employers feel current AI solutions meet their expectations for recruitment and training efficiency.

Globally, the average Net Employment Outlook stands at 31%, with 45% of employers anticipating hiring, showing Brazil’s hiring intentions far exceed the global average. The complete findings will be followed up with the next edition due in June, shedding light on Q3 2026 expectations.

These insights indicate a robust labor market with companies optimistic about growth, particularly in sectors central to Brazil’s economic transformation, while also highlighting ongoing technological adaptation challenges in human resources.