New SHRM–Fidelity Investments® Research Finds Younger Workers Want Security — Yet HR Leaders May Be Misreading Their Priorities
Financial pressure and AI uncertainty shape young workers’ priorities, while HR leaders underestimate their need for job security.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – SHRM, the trusted authority on all things work, workers, and the workplace, and Fidelity Investments® today released new research revealing a significant gap between what younger workers say they need to build lasting careers and what HR leaders believe they value. The report, Today’s Younger Workers: Expectations, Pressures, and Priorities, finds that workers ages 18 to 26 are seeking the same workplace fundamentals as their more experienced peers — including respect, stability, balance and strong relationships — while navigating acute financial pressure and uncertainty about how artificial intelligence will affect their opportunities.
The findings are part of SHRM and Fidelity Investments’ ongoing Shaping the Modern Workplace research series. The study surveyed 1,510 U.S. workers, including 1,005 workers ages 18 to 26, alongside 1,010 HR leaders at the director level or above.
“This research highlights that younger workers value financial stability, job security, and opportunities to grow, while approaching AI with more caution than employers may realize,” said Alex Alonso, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP, chief knowledge officer at SHRM. “As organizations navigate economic pressure and technological change, understanding what younger workers actually value is more critical than ever. By leveraging these insights, HR leaders can build trust, strengthen workforce readiness, and create workplaces where younger talent can thrive.”
Key Findings:
70% of younger workers cited cost of living as a current challenge, while only 39% felt highly confident about achieving financial stability.
75% of younger workers attributed their desire for higher pay primarily to cost of living, while 71% cited housing affordability.
61% of younger workers identified as AI avoiders or light users at work, and only 49% were willing to use AI in daily tasks.
85% of younger workers rated job security as important, compared with only 27% of HR leaders assessing its importance on their behalf.
Only 17% of younger workers preferred fully remote work, while 42% preferred in-person work and 41% preferred hybrid arrangements.
The report also finds that younger and experienced workers largely agree on what makes a job worth keeping. Younger workers’ five leading priorities were a fair and respectful work environment (86%), job security (85%), work/life balance (80%), a positive relationship with their managers (80%), and clarity about job responsibilities (77%).
“For younger workers, financial stability is a key factor shaping their aspirations and priorities at work,” said Jason Jagatic, vice president of workplace research and thought leadership at Fidelity Investments. “This research gives employers a clearer understanding of the challenges these employees face and the support they value most. By aligning benefits, financial wellness resources, and workplace experiences with these priorities, employers can strengthen recruiting efforts, improve employee engagement, and foster long-term retention.”
The research points to three actions employers can take:
Expand accessible financial-wellness support, including education, coaching and benefits that help workers manage debt, build emergency savings and plan for retirement.
Close the AI confidence gap through clear communication, hands-on training, role-specific tools and direct discussion of job-security concerns.
Build an employee value proposition grounded in what workers actually value, supported by regular surveys, focus groups, transparent career paths and meaningful skills-development opportunities.
The full report, Today’s Younger Workers: Expectations, Pressures, and Priorities, is available here.
Methodology
SHRM surveyed 1,010 HR professionals from April 8–9, 2026, through the SHRM Voice of Work Research Panel. Participants were required to be employed at the director level or above. Separately, 1,510 U.S.-based workers were surveyed from April 2–May 4, 2026, through a third-party panel. That sample included 1,005 workers ages 18 to 26 and 505 workers ages 27 to 80. Worker respondents were employed full time or part time by an organization. Both samples represented organizations of varying sizes and industries, and 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 174 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.
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