Mining and Energy Lead Hiring Expectations for End of 2026

Companies linked to Public Services and Natural Resources, a category that includes mining and energy, lead hiring expectations in Argentina for the fourth quarter of 2026. The sector reached a Net Employment Expectation (NEE) of 36%.

The indicator is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers planning workforce reductions from those planning expansions. Across the survey, 35% of companies anticipated increased personnel, 21% projected reductions, 42% foresee no changes, and 2% have not yet decided.

The national NEE stood at 16% when adjusted for seasonality, showing an improvement of 10 percentage points from the previous quarter and 11 points compared to the prior year. Nevertheless, the result remains below the global average, which was 29%.

Following mining and energy, the highest sectoral expectations were recorded in Finance and Insurance, at 28%; Construction and Real Estate, at 25%; and Manufacturing, at 21%. At the opposite end were the Public Sector, Health and Social Services, at -1%, and Information Technology, at 3%.

By region, Patagonia posted the country's highest NEE at 27%, followed by the Northeast (NEA), at 23%, and the Northwest (NOA), at 15%. The Pampas region registered 11% and the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), 12%. Patagonia also showed the most significant quarterly improvement, of 13 points, while the NOA declined three points.

In the Americas context, Brazil led projections at 53%, followed by Panama, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Argentina, at 16%, ranked among markets with more moderate expectations, at levels similar to Chile and below the global average.

Based on information from Clarín — Economía.