HR executives report uptick in hiring plans

Kerry Hannon · Senior Columnist Fri, April 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM GMT+8 1 min read

Hiring may begin coming back, if HR has anything to say about it.

Nearly 6 in 10 human resource executives plan to increase their companies’ hiring over the next six months, according to the latest survey from the Conference Board, the strongest outlook in three years.

“Rising hiring expectations suggest employers are feeling more confident about growth,” Robin Erickson, head of human capital research at The Conference Board, told Yahoo Finance.

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That positivity tracks with the two other factors measured by the index — worker retention and employee engagement — which also ticked up from the end of last year.

There were more promising signs about the job market this week.

Data from ADP Research published Tuesday showed that worker sentiment actually improved in April — a reversal from seven straight months of declines.

ADP’s payroll data also showed that private employers increased hiring for five straight weeks through early April. And the US economy added a sizeable 178,000 jobs in March, while the unemployment rate slipped to 4.3%.

That said, retaining existing workers remains a sticky point for companies, according to the Conference Board’s findings.

Only 34% of employers expected an increase in worker retention over the next six months.

Firms eager to keep workers are not, however, offering raises and bonuses to hold on to them. Instead, they’re leaning into noncompensation perks such as employee recognition and awards, wellness programs, and personalized “career progression and internal mobility support.”

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work," and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky and X.

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Source: “AOL Money”