New research from staffing firm Robert Half finds nearly two-thirds of metro Atlanta employers plan to increase permanent hiring during the second half of 2026, while many also expect to add contract workers.
At the same time, more than half say they’ve canceled projects because they couldn’t find people with the right skills, and about two-thirds report major project delays tied to talent shortages.
In an interview with WABE’s “All Things Considered,” Robert Half market director Amy Mangan said Atlanta continues to be one of the Southeast’s strongest hiring markets, driven by growth in technology, artificial intelligence and data-focused industries.
But she said employers are looking beyond technical expertise, placing greater value on adaptability, communication and a willingness to learn as technology rapidly evolves.
Mangan said AI has also complicated the hiring process itself. She warned that many applicants are using artificial intelligence to tailor resumes so closely to job descriptions that hiring managers struggle to identify who actually has the required experience.
