India’s job market is showing optimism heading into the second quarter of 2026, with employers signalling the strongest hiring intentions in nearly two decades. According to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS), conducted between January 1 and February 3 across more than 3,000 Indian organisations, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q2 stands at 68%—up 17 points from the previous quarter and 24 points year-over-year. This marks the highest reading since tracking began in Q2 2008.