AmCham Slovakia

While the V4 continues to grow, Slovakia records its weakest employment outlook since the pandemic

• 24 % of Slovak employers expect an increase in the number of employees, 29 % expect a decrease and 42 % do not expect any change, while 5 % of employers were undecided on this topic.
• Based on these data, the net employment outlook (NEO) in Slovakia, adjusted for seasonal fluctuations, is -3 % for the first quarter of 2026.
• The highest net employment outlook is in Western Slovakia 5 %. The lowest in Bratislava -7 %, -5 % in Central Slovakia and -2 % in Eastern Slovakia.
• Organizations in the sectorConstruction & Real Estate, with an outlook of 23, expect the most new jobs. The worst performing sector is Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, where employees will be laid off (-30 %).
• Globally, employers in Brazil (54 %), in India (52 %) and U.A.E. (46 %) have the strongest hiring plans. The weakest employment outlook is expected in Slovakia (-3 %), Romania (0 %) and in Hong Kong (1 %).

Bratislava, 14 January 2026 - The most competitive sector in Slovakia is Construction & Real Estate with an outlook of 23, uplifting by 8 points since last quarter and 3 points since this time last year.

A weak staffing environment is predicted in Slovakia in the next quarter with a Net Employment Outlook (NEO) of -3 points. The hiring projections contracted 17 points and 19 points compared to last quarter and Q1 2025, respectively. Globally, Slovakia occupies the lowest rank for its employment expectations, 27 points below the global average.

The global net labour market index for the first quarter of 2026 is at 24 points, down 1 percentage points from a year ago and increase of 1 point compared to previous quarter.

“The Slovak labour market is facing a significant challenge, as the employment index has fallen to its lowest level in five years. This situation calls for an active response – companies should invest in skills development, increase flexibility, and seek opportunities in sectors capable of growth even in times of uncertainty. Construction and real estate are a clear example that, even during challenging periods, there are segments with strong potential,” said Zuzana Rumiz, General Manager of ManpowerGroup Slovakia.

COMPARISON OF RECRUITMENT PLANS BY SECTOR

From Q1 2026, we have introduced a new industry sector classification that more accurately reflects trends in the global economy. We now track 11 sectors, including two specialized sectors – Technology and IT Services, which integrate subsectors of manufacturing, information services and professional services, providing a more comprehensive view of all technology-related aspects.

The automotive industry is also monitored as a standalone sector, encompassing interconnected subsectors of manufacturing, trade and logistics.

Employers in five out of nine sectors in Slovakia plan to decrease employee numbers in the first quarter of 2026. The highest number of new jobs (23 %) is expected to be created by companies in the Construction & Real Estate sector. This represents an increase of 8 percentage points compared to the previous quarter and a year-over-year increase of 3 percentage points.

However, this quarter is the lowest NEO recorded in the Manufacturing sector for 5 years, going back to Q1 2021 when it was -7. This quarter’s outlook for this sector is -5 points.

REGIONAL COMPARISON

The most competitive region in Slovakia is the Western Slovakia region with a NEO of 5, Although expectations in the region decreased by 16 points from the previous quarter, and 4 points since this quarter last year.

This quarter marks the lowest NEO recorded in Bratislava in 5 years, reflecting to Q3 2020, when it was -12. Similarly, this quarter also marks the lowest NEO in Eastern Slovakia in 5 years, dating back to Q3 2020 when it was -10.

COMPARISON BY COMPANY SIZE

Slovakian employers in 3 of 6 organization sizes expect increasing staffing levels in the upcoming quarter, while the remaining 3 organization sizes expect a decrease. Since last quarter, employment outlooks have weakened in all 6 organization sizes.

Slovakian employers in very large organizations, with 1,000 to 4,999 employees, are the most optimistic with a NEO of 9. Although expectations in these organizations decreased by 7 points since last quarter, they are up by 3 points since Q1 2025.

This quarter is the lowest NEO recorded in small organizations, with 10 to 49 employees, for 5 years, going back to Q4 2020 when it was -3.

“The decline in recruitment plans across five of the nine sectors is a signal that the economy requires a new impetus. Employers should focus on retaining key talent and preparing for rapid change. At a time when demographic trends and slower economic growth are reshaping labor market conditions, it is essential to invest in innovation, digitalization and cooperation between the private and public sectors to maintain competitiveness,” added Zuzana Rumiz, General Manager of ManpowerGroup Slovakia.

GLOBAL LABOUR MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

• The global net labor market index for the first quarter of 2026 is at 24 points, down 1 percentage points from a year ago and increase of 1 point compared to previous quarter.
• Employers in Brazil (54 %), in India (52 %) and U.A.E. (46 %) have the strongest hiring plans. The weakest employment outlook is expected in Slovakia (-3 %), Romania (0 %) and in Hong Kong (1 %).
• Globally the Finance & Insurance sector has the strongest hiring prospects (32 %), followed by Information (29 %) and Construction & Real Estate (27 %). The Public Sector, Health & Social Services is the weakest performer (20 %).

“The healthcare job market in Slovakia faces similar challenges as the global one – a shortage of qualified professionals, growing demand for specialized skills, and pressure to improve efficiency. The solution lies in combining innovation with education: companies that can integrate modern technologies with talent development will be best prepared to meet rising patient needs and adapt to changing market conditions,” said Zuzana Rumiz, General Manager of ManpowerGroup Slovakia.

HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCES OUTLOOK FOR 2026: INNOVATION, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

The global healthcare and life sciences sector enters 2026 with cautious optimism. Despite macroeconomic pressures, new opportunities are emerging thanks to artificial intelligence, which is transforming diagnostics, drug development, and talent acquisition. More than 60 % of industry leaders plan to increase investments in generative AI, yet only 19% of employers fully leverage it in recruitment processes.

Key Trends:

• AI as a Catalyst for Change: From early diagnostics to surgical assistance, AI is becoming the cornerstone of modern healthcare systems.
• Cost Cutting: Organizations seek ways to manage expenses without compromising quality, as supply chain pressures and geopolitical uncertainty shape strategies.
• Mergers & Acquisitions: A 15% growth in M&A activity is expected in 2026, particularly in the biopharma sector, requiring effective workforce planning.
• Healing at home: Shifting drug production closer to patients and localizing supply chains increases demand for new skills and flexible workforce models.
• Patent Cliff: Loss of exclusivity for nearly 70 drugs by 2030 puts pressure on accelerating R&D productivity.
• Growing Medical Needs: By 2030, the world will face a shortage of 11 million healthcare professionals, with 77% of employers already struggling to find qualified talent.

What does this mean for businesses?

Success will depend on the ability to innovate, invest in education, upskilling, and leverage global talent pools. Organizations that effectively combine technology with human skills will gain a competitive edge in this rapidly evolving landscape.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. Full results of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook survey are available at https://go.manpowergroup.com/meos. Detailed results for Slovakia can be found at www.manpower.sk/magazin/tag/prieskumy.

In the context of the labor market survey, 523 Slovak employers were asked: “How do you expect the total number of employees in your company to change in the following quarter by the end of September compared to the current quarter?”

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP

ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2025 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 16th year – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent. www.manpowergroup.com

MANPOWERGROUP SLOVAKIA

In Slovakia, ManpowerGroup takes care of the HR and payroll agenda of more than 1,100 employees every month, who work for ManpowerGroup's clients. Thanks to its network of seven offices, ManpowerGroup finds 3,000 new employees for 350 clients annually. For more information, visit www.manpower.sk.

Unless otherwise stated, all data are seasonally adjusted. The formula with which the data is adjusted from seasonal fluctuations is improved from quarter to quarter, and with the new formula the data for the previous quarters are also recalculated, taking into account the more data available to us.