Human Capital Management Spring 2026 Report
In the first quarter of 2026, 32 staffing & recruiting M&A transactions were announced in the U.S., an increase compared to Q1 2025 and Q4 2025. The rebound in announced activity followed a quieter second half of 2025.
A wide range of buyers contributed to the deal volume during the quarter. Adecco, a large publicly traded multi-national, acquired a U.S. based healthcare staffing firm specializing in travel nursing and allied health. Southfield Capital established a new platform with its majority investment in Metric Search, an executive search firm specializing in the life sciences, infrastructure, and data center sectors. Additionally, there were a number of small private, peer to peer transactions announced.
There were 22 HCM Services M&A transactions announced in Q1 2026, in line with deal activity in Q4 2025 but down from Q1 2025. Private equity backed consolidators continue to be an important driver of transaction volume in the sector due to the essential nature of the services that are provided on a recurring basis coupled with a fragmented market.
Market Environment
HCM Services M&A Deal Announcements
Staffing and Recruiting M&A Deal Announcements
Prior to joining FOCUS, Ms. Taylor worked in product marketing and business analytics roles at AOL. In her role as Director of Business Operations and Analysis at AOL, she led a team responsible for providing analysis, reporting, and strategic recommendations for products generating more than $150 million in annual revenue. She also managed 20+ cross-company initiatives which doubled the retention rate of canceling AOL subscription members as users of AOL’s free, advertising supported products.
Before that, Ms. Taylor was a management consultant and case team leader at Bain & Company, where she worked closely with client management teams, including C-level executives, to deliver measurable financial and operational improvements to businesses in a wide range of industries. Her engagements at Bain included identifying growth and cost savings opportunities, developing implementation plans, and performing investment due diligence.
Ms. Taylor received an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a B.A. in economics from Wellesley College. She is also a CFA charter holder and holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses.
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