ManpowerGroup revealed the results of its survey of Employment Expectations for the first quarter of 2025 in Colombia. More than 500 employers from various regions participated in the study, which yielded a “Seasonally Adjusted Employment” trend of 20%. This result suggests a moderately optimistic outlook for the Colombian labor market, although it reflects a slight decrease compared to previous quarters.
See also: (The most notable initiatives of AmCham Colombia during 2024)
The indicator, calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers planning staff reductions from the percentage of those planning to hire, showed a reduction of 2 percentage points compared to the previous quarter and 11 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. Despite This drop, the figure remains positive, signaling a moderate growth in hiring expectations in the country.
“Although we have seen a slight decrease in hiring expectations, the data remains encouraging. Colombian companies face a challenging economic environment, but continue to seek opportunities for growth and expansion, reflecting the resilience of the country’s labor market. At ManpowerGroup, we remain committed to supporting our clients and candidates, helping organizations find the right talent to navigate these complex times.“, commented Javier Echeverri, president of ManpowerGroup Colombia, expressed:
The sectors with the highest hiring demand in Colombia is Information Technology (IT) and Manufacturing, with 38% of employers in IT reporting intentions to increase its workforce, a significant increase of 7% from the previous quarter. The manufacturing industry follows closely with 34% of employers that plan to expand their workforce, while sectors such as Transportation, Logistics and Automotive report 18%, and Finance and Real Estate 17%. These sectors reflect growth in key areas such as digitalization, logistics, and the reactivation of the economy after the pandemic.
At the national level, the Amazon region stands out with the highest hiring expectations, reaching 44% of employers who plan to increase their workforce, followed by the Pacific region with 40%. In contrast, the Andean and Orinoquía regions report much lower figures, with 16% and 23%, respectively, which highlights the disparities in the labor market at the regional level.
Also read: (With the increase, how much will it cost to formally hire a worker who earns the minimum?)
Hiring
iStock
Hiring expectations
Information Technology and Manufacturing industries lead hiring expectations in Colombia with trends of 38% and 34%, respectively, highlighting the growing demand for specialized talent to promote digitalization in the country.
Despite the fluctuations, Employers in Colombia remain optimistic about hiring for the first quarter of 2025. 42% of employers plan to increase their workforce, while only 22% anticipate reductions in their teams. 34% of companies indicate that they will not make changes, reflecting the stability of some organizations in the midst of an uncertain environment.
One of the highlights of the 2025 Employment Expectations Survey is the growth of gender equality in organizations. Compared to last year, the percentage of companies that have achieved gender equality has increased significantly, from 28% to 66%. This progress underscores the sustained efforts by companies to close gender gaps, which is also reflected in the reduction of the pay gap, as 6 in 10 companies report being actively working to reduce the gender pay gap.
Globally, India leads the list of hiring expectations with 40%, while Argentina registers the lowest expectations with -1%, showing a clear disparity in employment prospects globally. Colombia, with an expectation of 20%, is in an intermediate position in the global context.
Regionally, North American employers report the strongest hiring intentions, with 32% of employers planning to increase their workforce, followed by Asia-Pacific (27%), South and Central America (23%). and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (19%).
“At ManpowerGroup we remain committed to helping companies face the challenges of the labor market, offering innovative solutions that contribute to the hiring of suitable talent. Companies must be more agile, inclusive and aware of the changes that the market is experiencing. “This report is just a reflection of the dynamics and complexity of the challenges organizations face, but it also highlights the opportunities that exist.”added Javier Echeverri.
Finally, the survey found that the outlook for the first quarter of 2025 shows a mixed outlook, with sectors such as IT and manufacturing leading hiring demand and important advances in gender equality.
PORTFOLIO
