Global job postings decline amid selective hiring and AI adoption

The global job market saw a 2.3% quarter-on-quarter decline in job postings during the second quarter of 2026. According to GlobalData, this trend suggests employers are adopting more cautious and selective hiring practices due to economic uncertainty and the rapid integration of artificial intelligence.

While most industries experienced a decline, the automotive, packaging, and oil and gas sectors saw growth. The automotive sector's rise is attributed to electric vehicle expansion and new model launches. In terms of technology, generative AI and machine learning were leading themes, with the United States and India leading in GenAI-related postings. North America was noted as the only region seeing an increase in onshoring.

In the United Kingdom, job vacancies fell to 712,000 between April and June 2026. Despite the technological shift, human-centric skills remain the most sought after by UK employers, led by communication, adaptability, and organization. While cloud and AI-related roles command the highest average salaries, the retail and technology sectors continue to maintain the highest volume of job postings globally.