Survey: Most Organizations Lack the Necessary Talent to Complete Priority Projects

Businesses are facing widening skills gaps and increased hiring complexity, according to new research from Robert Half, a Menlo Park-based recruiter and business consulting firm. Of 2,000 hiring managers surveyed, nearly two-thirds (62%) said skills gaps are more pronounced than one year ago, and just 6% reported having the talent they need to complete high-priority projects.

Talent shortages are common, and only a small percentage of managers across several key disciplines reported having the talent they need to complete priority projects.

Despite these gaps, employers are optimistic about the year ahead. More than 8 in 10 managers (83%) said they are confident in their business outlook for 2026, and of those, 43% said that they expect strong company growth. In addition, 60% said they plan to add permanent staff in the first half of 2026, and 55% said they expect to increase contract hiring to support immediate needs.

“As skills gaps continue to widen, employers aren’t standing still,” said Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half. “Organizations are leaning into a mix of permanent and contract hiring to close critical gaps, stay agile and keep priority initiatives moving forward.”

While hiring plans remain strong, the process itself is becoming more difficult. Nearly two-thirds of managers (65%) said hiring has become harder due to the rise in AI-generated applications, and 58% reported greater difficulty identifying truly qualified candidates compared to one year ago.

As generative AI tools enable candidates to produce highly polished resumes, applications and work samples, employers are spending more time validating qualifications and job readiness, adding friction to the hiring process and increasing the risk of misalignment.

“Generative AI has changed how employers evaluate talent,” Fay added. “When applications appear strong on the surface but don’t always reflect real capabilities, it becomes much harder to assess skills and make confident hiring decisions. More organizations are increasingly relying on partners who can rigorously evaluate talent and help them hire with greater certainty.”

The research was gathered from a survey developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm in November 2025. The survey contains responses from more than 2,000 hiring managers in the United States.

Channel Impact^®
The data underscore opportunities for channel partners in helping their clients, develop, manage, navigate, and successfully complete critical business projects.