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Research

Workplace Trends and Insights

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CHRO Employment Outlook

Learn why Q2 2026 data reveals a more cautious outlook compared to HR executives’ attitudes and expectations in Q1 2026. Gain insights about the decline of current and future employment condition, as well as expectations regarding budget growth for recruiting and total rewards programs, eNPS and employee engagement, overall productivity, and revenue per employee.

CHRO Economic Outlook

Discover why HR executives’ outlook remains mixed, though expectations that future economic conditions will worsen are rising. In contrast, attitudes toward revenue, profit, and capital expenditure have remained relatively unchanged since Q1, which suggests HR leaders have a cautious stance on organizational performance amid an uncertain economic environment.

SHRM Hiring and Retention Difficulty Indexes

Dive into 2026 findings that reflect that hiring difficulty has been on the uptick for two consecutive quarters, signaling renewed challenges in talent acquisition. Against a backdrop of ongoing economic uncertainty, it appears that earlier optimism at the start of the year has given way to more cautious expectations.

2026 L&D Executives: Priorities and Perspectives

The role of learning and development (L&D) has evolved from a training support function to a strategic driver of workforce capability and organizational performance. As organizations face persistent skills shortages, rapid technological change, and shifting business demands, L&D leaders are stepping forward to shape the workforce of the future.

The Global Employee Monitor

The Global Employee Monitor is a quarterly survey of workers across 26 countries that examines how key elements of the employee value proposition shape job decisions and influence outcomes such as engagement and retention. It also provides insight into employee well-being, perceptions of economic and job market conditions, and the impact of artificial intelligence, offering a global view of what is driving employee sentiment today and where the workforce may be headed next.

Skills (R)evolution: Preparing Employees for Tomorrow’s Jobs

Based on data from 1,800+ L&D professionals and 6,650 global workers, this research examines how organizations can strengthen learning and development to build workforce readiness. it also provides insights on how learning connects to engagement, culture, and business outcomes, and offers practical steps to align learning with evolving skills need.

2026 Recruiting Executives Benchmarking: Attracting Critical Talent

This brief highlights key findings from SHRM’s 2026 benchmarking data. These results provide key metrics pertinent to executives who manage recruiting functions for organizations. Given that over 2 in 3 organizations reported struggles with hiring for open positions in 2026, there remains a critical need to leverage data-driven strategies to enhance recruitment processes, as well as invest in innovative solutions to attract top talent.

The State of Financial Wellness: Challenges, Gaps & Opportunities

This report, leveraging research conducted by SHRM Thought Leadership in partnership with Raymond James, analyzes the current state of financial wellness, identifying the disconnect between the pressures that workers face and the support structures that organizations currently provide. By leveraging these insights, organizational leaders can help bridge the gap between workers’ needs and employers’ offerings, driving engagement, retention, and productivity in a challenging talent landscape.

Navigating AI in the Workplace: 2026

From automating routine tasks to generating complex code, the implementation of AI into the workplace fundamentally changes how we think, plan, and create. SHRM sought to understand what AI use looks like in U.S. organizations and how these workplaces manage the balance of leveraging advanced technology and delivering impact. The findings set the stage for navigating the current technological shifts and making more informed decisions in a highly digitized age.

Trends in HR Employment and Labor Demand

This SHRM data brief aims to deliver insights by analyzing historical patterns and recent developments in HR employment and labor demand, equipping stakeholders to make informed decisions and proactively address emerging challenges and opportunities.

State of the Workplace 2026

Drawing on insights from over 2,000 U.S.-based workers and more than 1,800 HR professionals, including more than 350 in a vice president role or higher, this research provides a snapshot of the current state of the workplace, offering valuable insights to inform and shape organizational strategies for 2026 and beyond.

Talent Management Executives Priorities and Perspectives

Drawing on insights from 416 talent management executives across industries and company sizes, this research highlights how talent management leaders are closing skills gaps, strengthening pipelines, and designing forward-looking strategies to prepare their organizations for what comes next.

New Employee Benefits Trends

The 2026 Employee Benefits Survey covers 230 unique benefits from paid time off and wellness to GLP-1 coverage and flexible working options. The July EN:Insights Forum unpacked these trends, showing that while some workplace benefits are nonnegotiable, others are moving in noteworthy directions, reflecting an ever-evolving landscape that HR leaders must navigate.

Beyond HR Tech Buzzwords

There are plenty of buzzwords for leaders to navigate, especially when it comes to the AI-dominated technology landscape. To help provide HR leaders with more clarity, the May EN:Insights Forum previewed research insights that cut through the buzz using data from job postings as well as results from a combined survey of 894 HR professionals and 2,598 non-HR workers.

Hiring in a Shifting Market

The April 2026 EN:Insights Forum previewed key recruiting findings from the Finding Talent: Rethinking Recruitment for Today’s Dynamic Labor Market report. Drawing on data from more than 1,200 HR and recruitment professionals, the research shows that while the labor market narrative may appear mixed, the difficulty of hiring the right talent is intensifying, and traditional approaches are no longer sufficient.

The Real Impact of AI in HR

At the March 2026 EN:Insights Forum, findings were presented from The State of AI in HR in 2026 report that highlight a widening gap between AI ambition and execution along with a clear mandate for HR to step more decisively into a leadership role. The report offers a data-driven look at where AI is gaining traction, where it’s stalling, and what it means for HR leaders navigating this transformation.

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Workplace Trends and Insights

CHRO Employment Outlook

CHRO Economic Outlook

SHRM Hiring and Retention Difficulty Indexes

New Research

2026 L&D Executives: Priorities and Perspectives

The Global Employee Monitor

Skills (R)evolution: Preparing Employees for Tomorrow’s Jobs

2026 Recruiting Executives Benchmarking: Attracting Critical Talent

The State of Financial Wellness: Challenges, Gaps & Opportunities

Navigating AI in the Workplace: 2026

Trends in HR Employment and Labor Demand

State of the Workplace 2026

Talent Management Executives Priorities and Perspectives

EN:Insights Forums

New Employee Benefits Trends

Beyond HR Tech Buzzwords

Hiring in a Shifting Market

The Real Impact of AI in HR

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