2026 Industry Trends

What defines a top-performing firm in 2026? As the industry enters a new era of AI-driven productivity, the gap between the early adopters and those slower to evolve is wider than ever.

In our 16th annual GRID Industry Trends report, we surveyed nearly 2,300 professionals worldwide to understand the strategies, tech, and leadership moves that are creating tailwinds in a modest economy.

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How are top-performing recruitment firms succeeding in 2026?

Our report revealed that visionary leaders are creating their own momentum towards growth. By embedding AI across their entire platform, the top firms are achieving speed and revenue gains that were previously impossible.

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Here’s a sneak peek into our 2026 findings:

Agencies using AI at any stage of the recruitment cycle are 3.5x to 4.5x more likely to have seen increased revenue.
56% of top-performing agencies now report placement times of under 10 days.
Recruiters report that AI makes candidate screening 50%-75% faster, allowing them to focus on high-value client relationships.

About the report

Our 16th annual report includes a comprehensive analysis of the staffing and recruitment industry, spanning responses from firms of all sizes, recruitment models, and industries. More than 2,300 recruitment professionals worldwide responded to this year’s survey.

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The 2026 Recruitment Industry Trends Report

Fill out the form to read the full report.

How are top-performing recruitment firms succeeding in 2026?

Here’s a sneak peek into our 2026 findings:

About the report

Our 16th annual report includes a comprehensive analysis of the staffing and recruitment industry, spanning responses from firms of all sizes, recruitment models, and industries. More than 2,300 recruitment professionals worldwide responded to this year’s survey.