ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) released its 2025-2026 Sustainability Report on Sept. 17, 2026, detailing measurable progress across workforce development, climate action, and governance. The report highlights a 24% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions between 2019 and 2025.

The company, titled Working to Change the World: Human First, Digital Always, outlines strategies to expand access to skills and work while advancing responsible AI governance as technology reshapes the labor market.

Workforce Development and AI Integration

ManpowerGroup reported significant expansion in its skills development programs. The SmartStart initiative upskilled 1 million people in the U.S. for the semiconductor industry, partnering with SEMI, Arizona State University, Maricopa County Community College District, and Junior Achievement.

Other key workforce metrics include:

• Manpower MyPath scaled to more than 332,000 participants and alumni.
• Experis Academy grew to more than 6,000 participants across 12 European countries, focusing on SAP and AWS technologies.
• More than 60,000 refugees connected to work globally, surpassing the North America goal.

AI adoption within the company reached 81% of employees using tools daily, supported by more than 30,000 employee engagements in AI learning. The firm conducted more than 25,000 AI-led interviews, with eight in 10 occurring outside traditional working hours to enhance candidate flexibility.

Climate Action Progress

On the environmental front, ManpowerGroup increased the share of renewable electricity in its energy mix to 44% of total consumption. The company continues progress toward its 2030 science-based targets and a net-zero goal by 2045 or sooner. TIME named the company among the World’s Most Sustainable Companies in 2025.

Governance and Ethics

ManpowerGroup established AIDA, an AI, Data, Analytics and Innovation governance framework, to oversee the evaluation and scaling of emerging technologies. It was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for the 17th time.

What the Numbers Show

The data reveals a strategic pivot toward digital accessibility in recruitment. With 81% of internal employees using AI tools daily and 25,000 AI-led interviews conducted, the company is leveraging technology not just for efficiency but for inclusion, evidenced by the fact that 80% of these interviews occurred outside traditional working hours.

Global employer hiring intentions strengthened slightly for the fourth quarter of 2026, with the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) rising to 29%. This marks an increase of two points from the previous quarter and six points from the same period last year, according to ManpowerGroup’s latest survey.

The data reflects a workforce in transition rather than simple expansion. Among employers planning to add staff, 62% cite changing roles and skills as the primary driver. This includes branching into new areas and adapting to advancing technology. Only 32% of those adding staff are backfilling positions, indicating that transformation is reshaping the labor market more than organic growth alone.

Regional and Sector Highlights

India recorded the highest hiring outlook among all 42 countries surveyed at 54%. This places it ahead of Vietnam (36%) and China (34%). The Asia Pacific region reported a 34% NEO, up six points quarter-over-quarter.

In the Americas, the regional outlook stood at 36%, with Panama posting the largest year-over-year improvement worldwide at 26 points. Brazil (53%) and Mexico (41%) also showed strong intentions. Europe and the Middle East reported a 22% NEO, led by the United Arab Emirates (41%).

Construction & Real Estate and Finance & Insurance sectors reported the strongest intentions at 36%. Construction & Real Estate posted the largest sectoral improvement, rising 13 points year-over-year.

Entry-Level Hiring and AI Impact

Entry-level hiring remains resilient despite technological shifts. Across all industries, 45% of employers plan to increase early-career hiring compared with 2025, while only 20% anticipate cuts. Where reductions occur, cost pressures and lack of experience are cited as drivers, rather than AI or automation.

Despite increased AI usage in recruitment, time-to-hire has not universally improved. Only 28% of employers report faster hiring times compared with 2025. Conversely, 30% say it has become slower, while 41% report no change.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between high hiring intent and stagnant recruitment efficiency suggests structural friction. While 62% of hirers seek new skills, 30% report slower time-to-hire. This indicates that the complexity of sourcing specialized talent for transformed roles may be offsetting the efficiency gains from AI tools, creating a bottleneck in workforce adaptation despite strong demand.