German Hiring Outlook Jumps 9 Points to 15% for Q4 2026
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Frankfurt am Main – September 11, 2026 -- German employers' net employment outlook rose nine percentage points to 15% for the fourth quarter of 2026, marking the sharpest quarterly increase of the year and ending two consecutive quarters of decline, according to ManpowerGroup's latest labor market barometer.
Fewer companies plan job cuts, driving the rebound
The improvement stems primarily from a drop in firms planning workforce reductions, down to 17% from 24% in the prior quarter. Some 33% of employers intend to add staff, while 47% plan to keep headcount stable. Despite the gain, the outlook remains two points below the year-ago level and well under the global average of 29% and the European average of 20%.