What Will Work Look Like in 2026? New SHRM Research Reveals How Leadership, Culture and AI Are Shaping the Future

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Today, SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, released two pivotal research reports, offering a comprehensive road map for business leaders navigating the complexities of the modern workplace. The findings from the highly anticipated annual reports, 2026 State of the Workplace, and 2026 CHRO Priorities and Perspectives, indicate while the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating, the true engine of organizational resilience remains human leadership and culture.

As organizations face the storm of economic uncertainty and rising operational costs, the 2026 State of the Workplace report uncovers a workforce under pressure. Though workers, HR professionals, and HR executives agree that salaries and burnout are leading concerns, employers highlight effective leadership and management as their primary workplace need. This signals the ongoing reliance on strong leadership to address evolving workplace challenges, particularly in sustaining employee engagement – the top issue workers believe HR departments should prioritize in 2026

Additional key findings from 2026 State of the Workplace include:

• Rising Worker Expectations: 72% of HR professionals and HR executives report that workers have higher expectations of employers today, highlighting the growing need for organizations to adapt to evolving demands.

• Stronger Job Satisfaction: 91% of workers who believe their organization effectively addresses workplace needs report job satisfaction, compared to just 44% among those who view their organization as ineffective.

• Retention Risks: Among workers who believe their organization is ineffective at addressing workplace needs, 51% are at least somewhat likely to leave their employer within the next year.

"As we approach 2026, business leaders recognize change is accelerating across every workplace. Success comes from reimagining how we lead, support, and develop our people,” said Jim Link, SHRM-SCP, CHRO of SHRM. “Our research shows investing in leadership and employee experience remains essential for organizational health. By blending technology with the irreplaceable value of human connection, leaders create work environments ready to adapt, grow, and thrive, regardless of what the future brings. Organizations are taking steps now to strengthen culture and empower teams to position themselves to meet tomorrow’s challenges with confidence."

Both of the reports highlight a critical consensus: the importance of leadership development. According to the 2026 CHRO Priorities and Perspectives report, nearly half of CHROs (46%) cite leadership and manager development as a top priority for 2026, marking the second consecutive year it has ranked as the top priority. Additionally, 29% of CHROs are prioritizing employee experience, with 31% emphasizing workplace culture, an increase from 15% in 2025.

Additional key findings from CHRO Priorities and Perspectives:

• Economic and Financial Pressures: Economic uncertainty has overtaken wage inflation as the top concern for CHROs, with 43% citing rising operational costs and 42% feeling pressure to meet financial goals.

• AI and Skill Development: 92% of CHROs anticipate greater AI integration in workforce operations, while 84% expect upskilling in AI-specific skills to increase.

• Workplace Trends: Transparency in leadership (40%), managing multigenerational workforces (47%), and reducing bias in AI hiring tools (57%) are expected to become more prevalent in 2026.

While the research underscores a greater integration of AI and need for upskilling, the data suggests technology must be viewed as an enabler rather than a replacement. CHROs’ expectations for 2026, particularly on AI, align with the priorities of CEOs – reflecting a shared view of the challenges ahead and the strategic focus needed to navigate them effectively.

Both the 2026 State of the Workplace and the CHRO Priorities and Perspectives reports serve as a wake-up call for leaders to embrace adaptability and strategic foresight. By balancing high-tech tools with high-touch leadership, organizations can build the resilience necessary to thrive in the years ahead.

Methodology

2026 State of the Workplace: 

HR professionals: A sample of 1,856 HR professionals was surveyed between Oct. 24 and Nov. 6, 2025, using SHRM’s Voice of Work Research Panel. Within this sample, 352 participants were identified as HR executives, holding the title of vice president or above. Respondents were eligible to participate if they were employed full-time or part-time in HR. Respondents represent organizations of all sizes in a wide variety of industries across the U.S. Data is not weighted.

U.S. workers: A sample of 2,079 U.S.-based workers was surveyed between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 2025, using a third-party online panel. For the purposes of this study, participants were required to be employed by an organization. The data was weighted to reflect the U.S. working population as of August 2025 on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, age, and full-time/part-time status based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarks.

2026 CHRO Priorities and Perspectives: A sample of 129 CHROs or those who sit as the senior-most HR professional in their organization were surveyed between Oct. 7 and Nov. 5, 2025. The survey was fielded electronically using the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel and SHRM Membership. The participants hold a variety of titles and represent organizations across multiple types of industries, sectors, sizes, and locations. The data was not weighted.  

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.