Survey looks at regional differences, top challenges and use of AI

By Jim Wilson

Jan 22, 2025

Many businesses globally are looking to significantly increase their workforce numbers as they anticipate a lot of positive ahead for the global economy, according to a report.

Overall, 42 per cent of chief executive officers (CEOs) expect to increase headcount by five per cent or more in the next 12 months, up from 39 per cent last year, reports PwC.

The number is more than double the proportion who expect headcount decreases (17 per cent).

The percentage of those looking to hire more workers is highest (48 per cent) among smaller companies (less than US$100 million) and those in the technology (61 per cent), real estate (61 per cent), private equity (52 per cent) and pharma and life sciences (51 per cent) sectors.

Overall, 71 per cent of Canadian employers have a positive feeling about their hiring outlook this year, according to a previous Express Employment Professionals report.

What is employers’ outlook for the global economy?

The positive hiring outlook comes as nearly 60 per cent of CEOs around the world expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months, according to PwC's 28th Annual Global CEO Survey.

Still, CEOs expect that there will be challenges ahead, citing macroeconomic volatility (29 per cent) and inflation (27 per cent) as the top global risks for the year ahead.

However, there are clear differences between regions.

Geopolitical conflict is seen...

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