NEW YORK–Credit unions’ hiring plans for 2026 are varied, but many U.S. companies say they have put a freeze on headcount in the new year, according to a new report.
The companies plan to keep hiring to a minimum in 2026, relying more on technology and automation while holding payrolls steady, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
Forecasters at jobs site Indeed expect relatively little hiring growth next year, and companies including Shopify and Chime Financial have said they intend to keep head counts roughly flat, the Journalreported.
The publication noted that at a recent gathering of chief executives organized by the Yale School of Management, 66% of leaders surveyed said they planned either to reduce staff or maintain current workforce levels in 2026. Only about one-third said they expected to hire.
“You’re going to see a lot of wait and see,” Chris Layden, chief executive of staffing firm Kelly Services, told the Journal. Layden cited economic uncertainty and increased investment in technology over people.
White Collar Hiring Slows
The Journal noted the hiring caution is coming as the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in November, its highest level in four years. While job growth has continued in healthcare and education, white-collar hiring has slowed, with companies such as Amazon, Verizon, Target and UPS cutting professional roles.
Federal Reserve Gov. Christopher Waller said many companies are pausing hiring as they assess how artificial intelligence could replace or reshape jobs, according to the Journal.
“We’re close to zero job growth,” Waller said, calling it an unhealthy labor market.
Some workers are staying put. At International Business Machines, voluntary departures have fallen to their lowest level in three decades, according to CEO Arvind Krishna.
Projection for Unemployment
Executives at Wells Fargo have also said the bank expects to enter next year with fewer employees, citing cost cuts and the growing impact of AI, the Journal said.
“Indeed, economists now expect unemployment to hover around 4.6% in 2026, with weaker hiring in fields such as software development and marketing, and stronger demand in healthcare and construction,” the report added.
