As summer unfolds, many U.S. employers are taking a hard look at their hiring plans, and what they see is prompting a more cautious approach.

A new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals reveals that while most hiring managers (78%) still feel positive about their company's hiring outlook for the remainder of 2025, that optimism has dimmed since last fall, when 84% felt confident. At the same time, concern is growing: 37% now express a negative outlook, up from 30% just months ago.

For those still planning to hire, the reasons are clear: they need to manage growing workloads (52%), fill newly created roles (49%) and replace employees lost to turnover (42%). But for others, the focus has shifted to tightening budgets. Among companies planning to reduce staff, more than half (54%) cite cost-cutting as the primary driver, followed by adapting to government policy changes (26%) and responding to declining demand (25%).

The types of roles companies are targeting are also evolving. Full-time positions remain the most sought-after (81%), though that figure has dipped from 86% last fall. Part-time roles are gaining traction (28%), and hiring is now evenly split between entry-level and mid-level positions (50% each). Notably, entry-level hiring has dropped sharply from 68% in the spring of 2024.

"These numbers tell a story of employers recalibrating," said Bob Funk, Jr., CEO, President and Chairman of Express Employment International. "They're still hiring, but with more intention, more strategy and a sharper eye on the future."