Randstad: 44 percent of companies expect an increase in net sales

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 02. 02. 11:11

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44 percent of the Hungarian companies surveyed expect their net sales to increase this year, 35 percent expect stable sales, and only one tenth of the companies expect their revenue to decrease, which is almost the same as a year earlier – according to Randstad’s 2026 HR Trends research, the results of which were sent to MTI on Monday.

The survey, conducted in the fourth quarter of last year, interviewed senior managers of 434 companies operating in various industries. 64 percent of the participants were international, 14 percent were national, and 22 percent were local. Randstad collaborated with market research and analysis company Evalueserve in the research.

In a regional comparison, Hungarian companies are the most optimistic: the proportion of those expecting revenue growth is lower in the Czech and Romanian markets, amid extremely high uncertainty. In Romania, only a third of companies and less than two-fifths in the Czech Republic expect their revenue to increase in 2026 – although in the latter market they still exceed the 2025 value. In Romania, the proportion of those expecting growth decreased by 9 percent compared to 2025, these companies join the camp of those expecting revenue stabilization, which increased by almost the same amount. The rate of uncertainty is extremely high in both markets, they said.

Wage costs are the biggest business challenge this year as well: 70 percent of Hungarian companies said so. The increase in operating costs was identified as a challenge by more people than in 2025, 52 percent compared to the previous 46 percent. At the same time, the proportion of those who consider a decrease in demand to be a business risk has increased the most: 48 percent, which is a 13 percent increase compared to last year.

According to the research, headcount plans in 2026 show a restrained picture: only 26 percent of companies plan to expand, 12 percent to lay off, while 17 percent will not replace departing employees, and 45 percent plan to keep the number of employees unchanged.

Recruitment activity is strongest in the IT, business service and energy sectors, while demand is decreasing in areas related to production, logistics and customer service. The proportion of those planning to increase their workforce due to business growth has increased by 4 percent to 77 percent by 2026, they said.

97 percent of the companies participating in the research plan to increase wages, but the rate of wage increases is continuing to decline. The most common increase range is between 6-8 percent, for both white-collar and manual workers.