Real estate contract openings surge by 39%

Temporary, contract, and freelance openings diverged sharply from Q1 to Q2. Real estate, professional services, and finance posted the largest gains, as employers lean on flexible talent to manage growth without committing to permanent headcount. Manufacturing and healthcare held steady at 18% and 17%, respectively. IT bucked the trend, falling 42.4% since Q1 2026, possibly reflecting that crucial ongoing projects have already been staffed. But overall, employers continue to hedge against uncertainty through contract hiring.