India has the strongest hiring outlook among 42 countries for the fourth quarter of 2026, according to ManpowerGroup's Employment Outlook Survey.

India's Net Employment Outlook, or NEO, stands at 54 percent. The NEO is the share of employers who plan to hire minus those who plan to cut staff.

The survey covered 3,055 Indian employers. About 65 percent of them said they expect to increase staffing in the October-December quarter.

The Asia-Pacific and Middle East region as a whole has an NEO of 33 percent for the quarter. India is far ahead of the regional average.

Strong demand in technology, manufacturing and services is driving hiring in India. Companies are also expanding teams for the festive and year-end business cycle.

Economists say the outlook reflects India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. But they add that job quality and wages matter as much as job numbers.

The global survey is one of the most watched indicators of labour market trends. It is based on interviews with employers in 42 countries and territories.