Business
Survey: Only five per cent of organizations have the skills and headcount needed for priority projects in 2026
Businesses are entering 2026 facing widening skills gaps and increasing hiring complexity, according to new research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. Of the 1,500 hiring managers surveyed, nearly six in 10 (57%) report having skills gaps in their department, and 58 per cent say the gap is more noticeable than it was one year ago. In addition, only five per cent say they have the necessary skills and headcount to complete high-priority projects.
About this update from Robert Half Inc.
[{"type":"list","items":[{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"New Robert Half research shows skills-based hiring is on the rise as gaps become more apparent","length":94,"tagName":"p"}]}],"tagName":"ul","bulletedList":true,"length":94,"olType":false},{"type":"text","content":"TORONTO, Feb 2, 2026 /CNW/ - Businesses are entering 2026 facing widening skills gaps and increasing hiring complexity, according to new research from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. Of the 1,500 hiring managers surveyed, nearly six in 10 (57%) report having skills gaps in their department, and 58 per cent say the gap is more noticeable than it was one year ago. In addition, only five per cent say they have the necessary skills and headcount to complete high-priority projects.","length":508,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Hiring plans by company size (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada Inc.)","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Hiring plans by company size (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada Inc.)","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":400,"height":209,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/cnwgroup.com/2b3da9d6d4e579a463c436212d72d86c"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/KhYjlsS.t9u2GFQ7.jxAfg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTM2ODtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/cnwgroup.com/2b3da9d6d4e579a463c436212d72d86c","width":400,"height":209}},"href":"https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2873812/Robert_Half_Canada_Inc__Survey__Only_five_per_cent_of_organizati.html","hrefExternal":true,"rel":"nofollow"},{"type":"text","content":"Skills gaps are widespread","length":26,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Only a small percentage of managers across several professional fields report having all the talent they need to complete priority projects:","length":140,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"list","items":[{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Legal – <1%","length":14,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Marketing and creative – 2%","length":27,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Technology – 5%","length":15,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Human resources – 5%","length":20,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Administrative and customer support – 8%","length":40,"tagName":"p"}]},{"val":[{"type":"text","content":"Finance and accounting – 9%","length":27,"tagName":"p"}...