U.S. 2026 Salary & Hiring Trends Guide
AI, tariffs, and shifting workforce expectations are redefining the future of work.
Executive Summary
Hiring in the Age of AI: What Matters Now
Is your industry AI-resilient?
Which skills remain in highest demand?
How are companies adapting hiring strategies?
The U.S. 2026 Hays Salary & Hiring Trends Guide is the definitive benchmark for workforce planning in 2026. Drawing on survey responses from thousands of U.S. employers and employees, it reveals how AI adoption is still in its early stages — but accelerating fast — alongside macroeconomic pressures like tariffs that are delaying or reducing hiring for nearly 20% of companies.
As a global leader in recruitment and workforce solutions, Hays connects organizations with the talent they need to thrive. Our market intelligence and industry expertise make this guide a trusted resource for decision-makers and professionals alike.
Key Findings Snapshot
50%
Over 50% of organizations already using AI tools
5%
of roles are being fully replaced by AI
+40%
Employers investing in upskilling employees
20%
Approximately 20% reporting tariff-related hiring delays
Survey conducted August 2025 across U.S. industries, HR professionals, hiring managers, and employees. Some questions allowed respondents to select up to three answers, so totals may exceed 100%.
A Message from Hays Leadership
AI, economic uncertainty, and shifting workforce expectations are reshaping the labor market — but at what speed?”
The 2026 labor market is marked by contradiction: rapid technological change alongside economic caution. Organizations are moving carefully — balancing innovation with stability.
At Hays, we see employers shifting focus from aggressive hiring toward building resilience. That means investing in upskilling, supporting adaptability, and reevaluating what “critical skills” look like in the age of AI.
The real opportunity is not simply to adopt technology, but to create workplaces where human skills and digital tools reinforce one another. This is where leaders can set the tone for long-term success.
The Evolution of AI in the Workplace
From Buzzword to Business Reality
AI has moved from experimentation to adoption. McKinsey projects 30% of U.S. jobs could be automated by 2030, and 60% significantly impacted.
How Quickly are Companies Actually Adopting AI?
Current AI Usage
AI Platform Adoption*
*Up to three responses allowed.
Functions Most Affected
We use AI to help developers write and review code faster, saving significant time and improving quality.”
– Vice President of Information Technology, private company operating in the education technology industry.
AI’s Impact: Slow Bleed or Rapid Replacement?
What Happens When Employees Leave?
Companies are taking varied approaches to role transitions, with most favoring human–AI collaboration over outright replacement:
Leaders without AI implementation experience are increasingly excluded from senior roles.”
– Gene Smith, Senior Director of Technology Recruitment at Hays.
Skills in Demand:
- Machine learning
- AI governance expertise
- Digital-fluent leaders
From Disruption to Demand: Roles that are being Created by AI
Learn to work with AI, not against it. Prompt engineering, data literacy, and automation fluency are becoming baseline skills across industries.
The Human Factor: Why the Human Touch Still Matters
Human Skills Remain Irreplaceable
Even in an AI-driven world, roles requiring empathy, leadership, and complex decision-making continue to show high resilience to automation.
Top Reasons Why Companies Aren’t Using AI*
*Up to three responses allowed.
Employee Responses
70
actively use free online resources to stay current
59
invest in paid courses or certifications
58
confident their abilities are relevant and up to date
The Upskilling Revolution
Top 5 Ways Companies Supported Employee Development in the Last 12 Months*
*Up to three responses allowed.
42%
of organizations are upskilling current employees rather than hiring new talent
Companies are embedding technology training into development programs while keeping a people-first mindset.”
– Jamila Ouadghiri, Consultant for Property and Facilities Management Recruitment at Hays.
AI Risks & Reality Checks
AI holds transformative potential, but risks like shrinking entry-level roles, governance gaps, and over-reliance on automation are real. At the same time, over-hyped promises can fuel skepticism and distract from legitimate workplace concerns.
The “elephant in the room” is tariffs: an external pressure reshaping costs, workforce stability, and hiring decisions. AI adoption doesn’t happen in a vacuum — organizations must navigate both technological disruption and macroeconomic forces like tariffs.
Industry Insights
Salaries & Contractor Rates
In the sections that follow, you’ll see highlights of how salaries and workforce dynamics are evolving across different industries. These insights spotlight “hot jobs” — identified in Hays Mint — where demand is expected to surge in the coming year.
The full salary benchmarks and contractor rates are available exclusively in the downloadable guide.
Software Development
Introducing AI Resilience Insights
Pay alone doesn’t tell the full story in 2026. Understanding how resilient a role is to AI disruption is just as critical.
This year, our experts introduced AI Resilience rankings to help readers understand how emerging technologies may affect specific roles. Each ranking reflects Hays’ professional analysis of how current, software-based AI capabilities are likely to influence roles over the next 12 months.
These insights highlight which roles are most secure, which are evolving, and where new skill demands are emerging—offering directional guidance, not definitive predictions.
AI Resilience
Accounting & Finance
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI is starting to influence accounting and finance, but its role remains modest. Most adoption centers on automating transactional tasks like invoice processing and fraud detection, while humans remain essential for strategic analysis, compliance, and client advisory.
Roles that used to be very transactional, like accounts payable or data entry, are being redefined. Instead of hiring large teams, companies are looking for fewer people with stronger analytical skills who can validate AI outputs.”
—Hannah D’Ambrosio, Lead Account Manager of Accounting & Finance Recruitment at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- Automated invoicing and fraud detection
- Forecasting and reporting support
- Dashboarding and analytics acceleration
Skills in Demand
- Financial planning and analysis
- Power BI
- QL/Python
- Data literacy
- Client communication
Outlook
Teams are slimming down but skewing toward more analytical hires who can partner effectively with AI, while applying judgment.
Construction
Overall AI Resilience: High
AI adoption in construction is selective. Safety rules, coordination needs, and liability keep humans central on job sites, though AI is emerging in support functions.
AI has real potential in handling administrative tasks like automating paperwork and scheduling. But when it comes to day-to-day responsibilities on-site, I think it’ll be a while before AI makes a major impact.”
— Alex Boucher, Business Director of Construction Recruitment at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- BIM-driven design and clash detection
- Predictive scheduling and resource forecasting
- Computer vision safety monitoring
- Automated procurement and inventory
- Robotics for surveying/bricklaying in large projects
Skills in Demand
- Critical thinking
- Digital project management
- Change management
Outlook
Adoption is uneven: big firms test admin and safety tools; future growth will center on autonomous equipment and modular methods.
Engineering
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI is beginning to influence certain areas of engineering, particularly in software development, design, and data-driven roles where automation and machine learning tools can enhance productivity. Engineering roles, especially in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), remain highly resilient. Liability and precision requirements mean AI is not displacing core work.
In engineering, mistakes can be costly. If you misplace a sprinkler system or plumbing layout, it’s not just a quick fix. Liability makes firms hesitant to adopt AI at scale.”
— Leon McAllister, Associate Business Director of Engineering Recruitment at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- Minor admin tasks like proposals or emails
- Early explorations in design optimization or simulations
Skills in Demand
- Technical engineering expertise
- Construction administration
- Mentorship to grow junior talent
Outlook
Firms focus on developing internal pipelines and traditional competencies. AI remains supplementary, not central.
Human Resources
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI is beginning to reshape HR, especially in recruitment automation and data governance. But human judgment is critical in culture, leadership, and conflict resolution.
The Resume Revolution
AI-generated resumes are now common. While 90% of hiring managers accept them, screening tools risk rejecting qualified candidates for keyword “sameness,” forcing HR pros to balance efficiency with authentic evaluation.
AI can help sort, but only human insight can truly select. The real challenge comes when the person on paper doesn’t match the one in the interview”.
— Jessica Smith, Senior Vice President of Americas People & Culture at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- Candidate screening and recruitment automation
- Data governance and privacy oversight
Skills in Demand
- AI governance expertise
- Conflict resolution
- Relationship-building
Outlook
AI will handle screening and admin; HR professionals will focus on culture, strategy, and leadership development.
Life Sciences
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI shows strong promise in research and trials but adoption is tempered by compliance and ethics. Breakthroughs prove potential, but human oversight is critical.
AI is increasingly being used in clinical trials to support patient enrollment… what once took hours can now be done in seconds, though oversight remains vital.”
— VP of Clinical Development.
Where AI Helps
- Trial patient enrollment automation
- Drug discovery and molecular modeling
- Regulatory document drafting and summarization
Skills in Demand
- Healthcare AI governance
- Regulatory affairs
- Clinical development
- Compliance management
Outlook
Adoption is most advanced in larger firms with resources for governance. AI serves as a support tool, not replacement.
Property & Facilities Management
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI is gradually expanding into property management, but firms remain cautious, balancing efficiency with tenant relationships.
We are already seeing automation of tenant and customer interactions and administrative tasks. That being said, it’s an industry where deals are brought through personal relationships and technical expertise is in high demand; making the real estate industry one of the more interesting sectors to watch from an AI perspective.”
— Craig Robinson, Vice President – West & Texas Regions Recruitment at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- Smart building energy optimization
- Predictive maintenance scheduling
- Automated tenant communication
- Lease review automation
Skills in Demand
- Building systems integration
- Digital customer service
- Balancing tech efficiency with personal engagement
Outlook
The future is “people-first, tech-enabled” with firms embedding training so staff can integrate tools without losing personal touch.
Sales & Marketing
Overall AI Resilience: Medium
AI is transforming sales and marketing, helping professionals work smarter and faster. It powers personalized campaigns, automates content creation, and drives real-time insights into customer behavior. In sales, AI enhances lead scoring, forecasting, and engagement—acting as a strategic partner that boosts productivity and data-driven decisions.
Where AI Helps
- Automates campaigns and content creation
- Personalizes customer experiences
- Improves lead scoring and forecasting
- Enables real-time engagement and insights
- Optimizes funnels with generative AI
- Strengthens data-driven decision-making
Skills in Demand
- Proficiency with AI tools (ChatGPT, HubSpot, Salesforce)
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Prompt engineering and content generation
- Customer journey mapping
- Adaptability to new technologies
- Ethical AI and data privacy awareness
Outlook
As AI evolves, demand will grow for professionals who blend creativity with analytical skill. Those who use AI ethically and strategically will shape stronger customer connections and measurable growth.
Technology
Overall AI Resilience: High
No sector is transforming faster than technology. AI reshapes hiring priorities, leadership expectations, and technical roles, with premiums for those with direct implementation experience.
Today, any tech leadership position is expected to come with prior AI implementation experience. Leaders without that background are increasingly excluded from consideration.”
— Jason Dunham, Senior Vice President of Tech Sales at Hays.
Where AI Helps
- Machine learning engineering and automation
- AI privacy and governance
- Cybersecurity with AI integration
- Cloud and data architecture
Skills in Demand
- Machine learning
- Data science
- Governance and privacy expertise
- Hands-on AI leadership
Outlook
Firms combine external hires with internal upskilling. Traditional tech roles evolve rapidly, with cloud/data infrastructure now critical growth areas.
Market Trends Shaping 2026
Beyond salaries and AI adoption, broader market forces are shaping hiring strategies. From economic pressures to shifting employee expectations, these trends provide essential context for workforce planning.
Top Trends & Future Outlook
Looking Forward*
What are the most in-demand skills organizations are looking for in the next 12 months?
*Up to three responses allowed.
Looking for last year's data? Contact Us
Related Resources
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