Future of Work
Preparing organizations for the next era of work through innovation, technology, and agile workforce strategies.
2026 TRENDS
Workforce Evolution Accelerates in 2026
From fractional roles to polywork and hybrid models, workforce dynamics are rapidly changing — and change will only intensify in 2026. Discover how work will evolve, and explore all seven 2026 trends to stay ahead of the competition.
From AI to new models of work, the future of work is here — and HR teams are at the forefront of shaping it. Organizations must rethink where, how, and why work is done to remain competitive. This includes adopting emerging technologies, redesigning jobs, and preparing employees for the skills of tomorrow. The future of work is not a distant concept — it’s an evolving reality that requires proactive HR leadership.
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Key Data & Trends from SHRM Research:
71%
of U.S. workers want flexible work schedules, while only 14% prefer widespread AI/automation.
51%
of organizations now use AI in recruiting — the top HR function for AI adoption in 2025.
23%
Year-over-year growth in demand for HR tech skills (up 35% over two years).
Workforce Planning: The Future of Work
Anticipate tomorrow’s talent needs with proven strategies to build an agile and future-ready workforce.
Latest News
Discover why human skills matter as much as AI at work. See what SHRM's Emily M. Dickens and workforce leaders say about closing the talent gap.
Supervisor hesitation is stalling AI adoption in the workplace where it counts. See how HR can guide responsible AI use paired with strong human judgment.
SHRM CEO explores how HR can lead through AI-driven change by preparing workers, supporting managers and keeping people at the center.
AI is creating new capacity at work. The real business question is whether leaders use those gains to cut costs or drive growth, revenue, and innovation.
Week one plays a critical role in how new hires perceive your organization. This culture first onboarding guide shares practical ways to create a first-week experience that builds connection, confidence, and belonging, starting day one.
Don’t Just Prepare for the Future — Lead It
AI, hybrid work, skills planning — SHRM membership equips you with forward-looking insights and tools to keep your organization competitive.
Become a SHRM Member and future-proof your workforce.
Member Resources
Learn how AI can help turn HR notes into clear, consistent communications while preserving your organization’s voice and avoiding invented details.
Learn how AI can help sharpen performance goals by adding clear measures, targets and timelines while flagging vague goals, job duties and missing information.
Learn how AI can help identify duplicate candidate records, assess matching patterns and create a review queue for human-led ATS cleanup.
Learn how AI can summarize interview transcripts against a hiring rubric while separating evidence from assumptions and flagging gaps for human review.