SHRM Unveils Groundbreaking Global Worker Project Research: A Comprehensive Look at the Future of Work

Alexandria, VA – Today, SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, unveiled its SHRM Global Worker Project in Berlin at an exclusive working luncheon with leading HR executives, as part of SHRM’s Policy Week in Europe which includes speaking at the Global Solutions Summit, attending the IOE Annual Conference on Business and Human Rights, and participating in high-level meetings with key UN agencies and missions in Geneva. 

The groundbreaking research sheds light on the needs and desires of workers across 16 countries, including Germany, United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Mexico, China, Nigeria, India, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Australia.

The findings highlight how the future of work is driven by meeting real human needs, not just offering perks. Employers who prioritize financial security, properly utilizing workers’ skills, upskilling, and fostering respectful workplaces will lead, while others risk falling behind. By investing in strong workplace relationships, growth opportunities, and cultures of respect, organizations can boost productivity, retention, and innovation. The research surveys diverse workers, including full-time (salaried and hourly), part-time, temporary, and self-employed individuals.   

This initial launch marks the beginning of a 6-part report series, scheduled for release later this year.  These include: 

1. The SHRM Global Worker Project: A Human-Centered Approach to the Contemporary Global Workforce
2. What Global Workers Want and the Global Worker Experience
3. From Trust to Transformation: How Workers are Faring and Who They Trust Most to Make Positive Change
4. Access to Good Paying Jobs and Worker Mobility in an Interconnected World of Work 
5. The Global Skills Mismatch 
6. Financial Security & Paid Leave Trends in a Global Economy 

German workers show a high level of trust in employers in general, with 44% saying they mostly or completely trust them to fulfill employee responsibilities to workers – higher than workers in the other 15 countries surveyed. German workers also highly praise their education system, with 68% of them rating their access to education as good or excellent.  

"SHRM’s Global Worker Project is paving the way for meaningful change by focusing on what truly matters—understanding the needs and aspirations of workers across the globe," said Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs at SHRM. "We believe progress begins by listening to and acting on the voices of today’s workforce. Through this research, SHRM is equipping global leaders with critical insights and actionable policy recommendations to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace for all. When organizations overlook the untapped talent within their teams, they are not just at risk of losing people; they forfeit the potential for greater innovation, resilience, and long-term success. At SHRM, we remain committed to building modern workplaces that value and empower the diverse individuals who drive growth in today’s interconnected world." 

The report shows trust in employers is rising, but the trust must be earned and protected with real accountability and tangible benefits supporting financial security and cultivating workplaces rooted in fairness, respect, and inclusion. The best investment for business is in its people – because when workers thrive, organizations thrive.  

SHRM's Global Worker Project makes clear, while worker motivation is abundant, access to resources is not. Workers are ready to learn, grow, and lead—but too often their skills go unused, their potential overlooked, and their paths to advancement blocked by outdated systems.  

Key findings include:  

Mental Health and Retention

• Workers in Germany with jobs harming mental health are 4.5x more likely to be actively seeking another job, compared to those who say their job has had a positive effect on their mental health (46% vs. 10%, respectively). 

• One in three (33%) of workers in Italy with jobs harming mental health are actively seeking another job. Similarly, 43% of worker in the U.K. in similar situations are also job hunting.  

• In the U.S., 42% of workers who said their job has negatively or very negatively affected their mental health are actively seeking new job opportunities. 

Trust in Employers vs. National Government

• In Germany, 30% of workers lack trust in their national government to fulfill its responsibilities to workers. In contrast, 55% place greater trust in their employers to meet those obligations. 

• Though, trust in one’s employer varies across countries, with 32% of workers in Italy, 50% of workers in the U.S., and 52% of workers in the U.K. mostly or completely trusting their employer. 

Social Determinants of Health

• In Germany, workers were significantly more likely than workers across the other 15 countries to rate their social and community context (53%) and their level of economic stability (51%) as good or excellent.  

• Like workers in Germany, workers in the U.S. were significantly more likely than workers across the other 15 countries to rate their level of economic stability (52%) as good or excellent. 

• In contrast, workers in Italy were significantly more likely than workers across the other 15 countries to rate their social and community context (46%) and level of economic stability (45%) as fair. 

To access the Global Worker Project webpage go to: www.shrm.org/globalworkerproject

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.