Amy Mangan and Stephen Tradd, Robert Half, on 2026 Hiring Trends, AI Impact, Flexibility vs Compensation, and Atlanta Staffing (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 926)
On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Amy Mangan, Market Director, and Stephen Tradd, Regional Director, both with Robert Half, to discuss 2026 hiring trends shaping the Atlanta labor market. Amy and Stephen reveal that 38% of U.S. professionals plan to seek new jobs in early 2026, marking the end of the “great freeze” and “job hugging” phenomenon that defined 2025. These 2026 hiring trends are driven by pent-up demand, understaffed teams, and employees burned out from economic uncertainty and hiring freezes.
The conversation addresses the critical balance between flexibility and compensation in 2026 hiring trends. While 60% of professionals are willing to work fully on-site for higher pay, many top candidates continue to turn down significant salary increases when flexibility is not part of the offer. Amy and Stephen explain why return-to-office policies are not one-size-fits-all and how companies that fail to offer hybrid arrangements risk losing their best talent. They also examine AI’s transformative role in 2026 hiring trends, noting that professionals who fail to develop AI literacy will be left behind, while those who embrace these tools become more valuable to employers.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- 38% of U.S. professionals plan to look for new jobs in early 2026, with Gen Z (45%), tech professionals (43%), and working parents (41%) leading the trend
- Flexibility often trumps salary, as candidates repeatedly turn down offers with 20-25% pay increases when hybrid work options are not available
- AI adoption varies by company size, with large organizations building dedicated teams for governance and implementation while small and mid-size businesses leverage existing tools in Microsoft platforms
- Specialized skills command premium pay, with AI and machine learning roles seeing 4%+ salary increases and overall professional compensation up 2% year over year
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guests Amy Mangan and Stephen Tradd from Robert Half
02:20 Introduction to Robert Half’s specialized staffing services across accounting, finance, technology, HR, and legal
03:05 2025 labor market analysis and unusual hiring patterns
03:30 38% of U.S. professionals planning to look for new jobs in early 2026
04:30 The great freeze, job hugging, and why employees stayed put in 2025
06:11 Industries seeing the most hiring activity, including healthcare and nonprofit sectors
06:32 Impact of return-to-office policies and lack of flexibility on employee retention
07:33 Understaffed teams and employee burnout are driving job turnover
08:12 Return-to-office strategies and the challenge of finding one-size-fits-all solutions
09:35 Pent-up demand and digital transformation driving 2026 hiring needs
10:01 Digital transformation and software transitions in finance, accounting, and healthcare
11:01 AI’s impact on hiring practices and required skill sets
12:20 Why professionals need to learn AI tools to remain competitive
13:14 AI adoption differences between large companies and small- to mid-size businesses
15:34 Employers willing to pay premium for AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics expertise
16:18 2026 compensation trends and salary increases by specialty
17:01 Why flexibility matters more than salary for many top candidates
19:35 Perks and benefits beyond flexibility, including commuter benefits and childcare
21:05 Nuance in compensation and flexibility based on company and sector
22:35 Robert Half’s collaborative approach to helping clients understand market conditions
24:08 When business owners should reach out to Robert Half for staffing solutions
26:46 Success stories, including rapid deployment of 25 help desk professionals
28:52 How to connect with Robert Half and access the 2026 Salary Guide
Amy Mangan, Market Director, Robert Half
Amy Mangan is a Market Director with Robert Half, overseeing the contract and permanent placement services for Technology, Marketing and Creative practice groups in Atlanta. With 15 years of dedicated tenure at Robert Half, Amy has cultivated a reputation as a trusted leader in matching top talent with leading organizations. Before joining Robert Half, Amy brought 20 years of experience in technology and marketing staffing combined. Her deep understanding of both fields allows her to connect with clients and candidates alike, providing strategic solutions that drive success. In addition to her professional achievements, Amy is an active member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Atlanta, where she serves on the Membership Committee, contributing to the growth and engagement of the local marketing community. Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and two cats.
Stephen Tradd, Regional Director, Robert Half
Stephen Tradd is a Regional Director with Robert Half, overseeing placement services for contract finance and accounting, administrative and customer support, legal, and management resources in the firm’s Atlanta and Alpharetta offices. With more than a decade of experience at Robert Half, Steve first joined the company in 2009 in Florida and returned in 2023 as Branch Director for the Atlanta Midtown branch, later advancing to his current role. Throughout his career, Steve has earned many professional accolades, including Robert Half’s prestigious Reach for the Stars Award and is a $3 million-dollar milestone achiever, consistently delivering outstanding results. Steve’s competitive mindset, strategic approach, and ability to connect top talent with leading companies have been the driving forces behind his success. Outside of work, Steve enjoys traveling the world and has recently returned from a trip to Zurich, Austria, and Germany. This year alone, he’s visited 5 countries outside of the U.S.
Robert Half
Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. Areas of specialization include finance and accounting, human resources, administrative and customer support, legal, technology, marketing, and creative. Robert Half offers contract talent, permanent placement, and executive search services; it is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. In the last 12 months, Robert Half has been named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and has also received recognition from Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers and one of America’s Best Professional Recruiting, Executive Recruiting, and Temporary Staffing Firms.
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
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Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
