CEO optimism jumped this quarter — but America’s top executives are split over how aggressively to hire, according to a new survey by the Business Roundtable, first seen by Axios. The sentiment rebound is driven by a surge in plans to increase capital spending, as companies pile into an AI investment boom that has become a critical growth engine. It fits with broader evidence that the economy may have firmed up a bit at the start of 2026. The central question for the economy in the months ahead is whether that spending translates into demand for more workers, especially as CEOs navigate a new war and an unresolved trade policy. “This quarter’s survey shows a notable improvement in CEO sentiment,” Business Roundtable CEO Joshua Bolten said in a release. “The rise in the headline index is encouraging, especially the solid gains in sales and capex, but the employment picture remains a concern, with as many CEOs planning to reduce employment as increase it,” Bolten added.

Full report : AI is driving up growth but executives are split on hiring amid AI boom.