• Macro Notes
  • Posts
  • The 2026 Corporate Resolution Looks Simple: Fewer Hires, More Bots

The 2026 Corporate Resolution Looks Simple: Fewer Hires, More Bots

Author

Noah Zelvis
January 04, 2026

New year, new corporate diet plan: cut the fluff, keep the headcount flat, and let software do the heavy lifting.

Companies are sketching out 2026 budgets, and hiring is showing up in the notes as a maybe later, not a must-do.

Huge Potential (Sponsored)

After reviewing thousands of companies, analysts isolated the 5 Stocks Set to Double based on accelerating performance, improving fundamentals, and strong technical signals.

This newly released report breaks down why these five picks may be positioned for significant moves in the coming year.

While results cannot be guaranteed, past reports uncovered gains reaching +175%, +498%, and +673%.

Access is free until midnight.

See the 5 Stocks Set to Double. Free Access.

*This free resource is being sent by Zacks. We identify investment resources you may choose to use in making your own decisions. Use of this resource is subject to the Zacks Terms of Service.
*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk. This material does not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed dealer, broker, or investment adviser.

The message from big employers is pretty consistent: stay lean. A lot of leaders are signaling they want to maintain team size next year or even shrink it, while leaning harder on technology to absorb the extra tasks. Think of it as the corporate version of meal prep: fewer ingredients, same calories, more automation.

This lines up with what the labor market has been hinting at for months. Hiring has cooled, white-collar openings feel tighter, and workers are less eager to jump ship. When fewer people quit, companies don’t “need” to replace them. That naturally lowers the number of new job postings, which makes the whole market feel sticky and slow.

AI is the wild card everyone is quietly trying to price in. A lot of execs are basically saying: we’re not sure what roles we can replace, but we’re confident the answer is not zero. That pushes spending toward software, automation tools, and workflow systems instead of new payroll lines.

For investors, the takeaway is not to panic about an immediate crash. It’s to recognize what’s likely to get budget priority in 2026:

  • productivity tools that help teams do more with less

  • HR and payroll platforms that make lean operations easier

  • training and reskilling that helps existing staff cover more ground

  • flexible labor models (contract work) when companies need output but don’t want permanent hires

Stay Up to Speed on Macro News!

We now send our macro-focused news via text, so you’re never far from the latest market-moving action.

Actionable Stuff

  • Follow the capex-over-headcount trend. If companies won’t hire, they’ll still spend on tools.

  • Prefer recurring revenue. Software that becomes “the system” tends to stay in place even when budgets tighten.

  • Look for clear ROI. Tools that save time, reduce errors, or replace repetitive work get approved faster.

  • Be picky with staffing plays. The winners are usually the firms tied to specialized, hard-to-fill roles, not generic hiring booms.

  • Build positions in pieces. A low-hire year can mean choppy sentiment—great for staged entries.

Poll: If a store offered a 5% discount for paying in cash, would you do it?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Crypto Wealth (Sponsored)

Liquidity is rising, institutions are investing, and regulations are becoming friendlier.

The foundation is set for what could be a major market move.

Investors who act now may benefit most.

A 250-page digital system reveals how to grow crypto wealth safely, without risky speculation or constant stress.

Download now and claim $788 in bonuses—including the #1 crypto pick this cycle.

Access the Crypto Guide

Top Picks

UiPath (NYSE: PATH)

If companies want to keep headcount flat but still hit targets, automation is the obvious cheat code.

UiPath sells software that helps automate repetitive workflows, which is exactly the kind of thing exec teams buy when they want productivity gains without adding bodies.

In a lean-hiring year, the pitch gets easier: let the bots handle the boring stuff so humans can do the higher-value work.

Paylocity (NASDAQ: PCTY)

When teams stop growing, companies obsess over efficiency, retention, scheduling, compliance, and doing payroll/HR without headaches.

Paylocity benefits from that “run a tighter ship” mindset.

Even if hiring slows, HR platforms still matter because they help manage the workforce you already have—and in a low-attrition environment, improving engagement and internal mobility becomes a bigger deal.

Coursera (NYSE: COUR)

If hiring is weak, retraining gets louder. Companies would rather upskill the people they already pay than go shopping for talent in a slow, uncertain market.

Coursera sits in the reskilling lane, which can benefit when organizations try to redeploy staff, teach new tools, and plug gaps created by lean hiring and shifting job requirements.

Kforce (NASDAQ: KFRC)

This is the we still need work done, we just don’t want permanent headcount angle.

In a wait-and-see environment, companies often lean on contract and project-based talent for specific needs.

Kforce focuses on professional staffing, which can hold up better than broad-based temp hiring when employers are selectively filling skill gaps without committing to full-time adds.

Short-Term Winners (Sponsored)

Here’s a free copy of our latest report: 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.

Our long-standing, data-driven system has consistently identified high-potential trades — helping investors capture exceptional gains over time.

This report highlights the 7 stocks with the strongest short-term potential.

Only a small fraction of stocks qualify — these could be your next portfolio movers.

Don’t miss out — download your free copy now.

[Access the Free Report]

*This free resource is being sent by Zacks. We identify investment resources you may choose to use in making your own decisions. Use of this resource is subject to the Zacks Terms of Service.
*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk. This material does not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed dealer, broker, or investment adviser.

Bottom Line

2026 is shaping up like a low-hire, high-efficiency year. Companies aren’t waving the white flag on growth, they’re just trying to get there with smaller teams and smarter tools.

The clean investing angle is to own the picks-and-shovels of doing more with less: automation, workflow software, HR systems, and reskilling platforms, with a side of specialized staffing for the gaps that still need humans.

That’s it for today’s edition—thanks for reading! Reply to this email with any feedback or let me know which macro trends or markets you’d like me to cover next.

Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Macro Notes