New Delhi: India is set to enter the new year with one of the most optimistic hiring sentiments in the world, as employers report the second-highest employment outlook globally for the January–March 2026 quarter. According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, 52% of Indian companies plan to expand their workforce over the next three months.

The survey places India just behind Brazil, which leads with a 54% Net Employment Outlook (NEO). The UAE follows in the third spot with 46%. The NEO represents the gap between employers expecting to increase staff and those predicting reductions.

For Q1 2026, India’s NEO stands at 52%, marking a 27% rise from the previous quarter and a 30% jump from the same period last year, signalling strong employer confidence despite ongoing glob

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