how randstad’s expert team equips you with a brilliant compensation strategy.

The U.S labor market is in the midst of a perfect tech innovation storm, steered by a shifting economy. This re-take on the existing hiring system is altered the U.S. workforce by the day. Our 2026 research brings to light a tangible disconnect between what’s on offer for today’s talent and what talent expects. A cleverly devised compensation strategy is a move that makes sense.

Shifting talent expectations are exacerbating the a skills deficit that’s reaching a critical point. In a tough terrain such as this, a compensation plan that invests in your people and business vision is your best defense.

Moreover, getting compensation right is high-stakes. How do you stay within budget and still create offers that top talent can't refuse? To make this work, get a bird’s eye view on the existing talent market. Furthermore, go the extra mile in observing a few critical trends that shape how job seekers view your industry.

Once you build this picture, you’ll come across a set of trends that you can do away with and some that your talent strategy can’t exist without. Your talent strategy has its root hidden in these shape-shifting trends. Additionally, the cream of talent scouts for employers who stay on top of trends, bound to becoming a reality.

Stop letting volatility slow your recruitment team down. A talent expert does the heavy lifting of studying market trends, grasping your growth vision and setting the orientation right; while you focus on nurturing a team.

Additionally, expert talent consultants such as Randstad come with a wealth of experience from swimming the talent market wave, several times. How is this our strength? We’ve curated the biggest shifts shaping the industry, into a comprehensive report called the 2026 salary guide.

a take on the global compensation trends.

​These defining movements of business winds and talent priorities are the bedrock upon which your talent strategy solidifies. As we gathered a grasp of how new new high value roles and business needs are challenging traditional career progression models, we observed that AI and tech innovation as a rapid clip.

That said, here’s our take on the global economy and how it’s rewiring the intel needed to design a compensation framework.

Economic growth is a direct path to soaring housing prices and the squeeze on household budgets. This pattern catapults to push global compensation trends out of the league across diverse sector. Furthermore, keeping a tab these changes helps you sift through changing employee expectations.

What’s more? You can develop a compensation strategy aligned with the industry benchmarks, if you're keeping a close watch on what's happening in the global talent market.

As AI and automation rewrite the rules of the global talent market., employers are seeking candidates with distinctive skills. However, to attract and retain sought-after talent, you must go the extra mile to communicate your value addition as a leading employer in the race for top talent.

a sneak peek into what 2025 tells you.

Our 2025 Workmonitor report shines a spotlight on the emergence of AI in the modern workplace. Our data suggests that 78% of the U.S. workforce feel equipped for what’s next with AI and automation in their work ecosystem.

This readiness translates to your organization transcending the traditional approach of AI experiments to a strategic rollout of AI focused on business goals. How does AI reshape your workplace blueprint? Deploying AI to drive real-world outcomes equips your HR teams to gear up for amplified employee retention and recruitment teams to gather pockets of diverse talent.

You can't build a relevant compensation plan until you understand what AI means for your talent strategy. Once you have that clarity, your hiring model demonstrates what today’s talent truly values. Furthermore, our 2026 salary guide notes that talent across sectors such as manufacturing, life sciences, legal services and other intellectually demanding sectors alike, is commanding premium compensation.

watch the trends that shape this compensation pattern.

The concept of specialist talent isn't new, but its importance is about to skyrocket. In the near future, relying on these experts won't be a choice; it will be your only option. Why? That's the relentless march of technology for you.

In addition, some operational sectors are strained with skills shortage. Furthermore, this void can be attributed to the swiftly aging workforce. Such patterns only point to the extent of investment the operational industries; and by extension, their associate industries must pump in.

Investment in recalibrating the roles for which you hire talent is the next big change in your talent strategy. Naturally, this shift will send ripples through your compensation framework. As the job roles for which you hire increase their dependence on AI and automation, the skill profile you’re after must be altered significantly.

In essence, parts of your compensation framework must be re-adjusted to the new skills injected into the industry. Automation on the fundamental of AI is spawning a host of new roles and opportunities. However, take a closer look at your training infrastructure. Does your learning ecosystem have what it takes to hire this talent?

If not, put a pause on your recruitment engine till you find the missing piece of the puzzle. In other words, your in-house training ecosystem directly impacts how you hire and nurture talent. This talent requires deep expertise to carry out task execution at an unprecedented rate.

randstad can help you strike the right balance

Randstad’s commanding knowledge in the talent market allows our talent experts to be seasoned advisors for your workforce management strategy. Their profound insight and unmatched skill of navigating the tidal currents of global labor markets gives them incomparable exposure to uncertainty.

Gain access to deep salary data trends and discover a unique window into how global compensation trends shape your talent strategy. Start a conversation with us now, to grab an unrivaled opportunity to draw in and keep a remarkable pool of talent.