In preparation for 2026, many large employers are indicating a preference to keep their workforce stable or to reduce employee numbers. This trend reflects a broader corporate strategy focused on maintaining lean operations while increasingly integrating technology to handle additional tasks. According to forecasts from the job site Indeed, hiring growth is expected to be minimal in 2026. Notably, companies such as e-commerce platform Shopify and Chime Financial have committed to keeping their employee counts relatively unchanged. At a recent gathering of CEOs organized by the Yale School of Management, 66% of the leaders surveyed expressed intentions to either lay off workers or maintain their current staffing levels, with only one-third planning to hire new employees.
