HRM and skills development – April 2026

AI adoption shifts from experimentation to redesign
The report Today at Work 2026 (5.42 MB) by ADP Research indicates that only a minority of workers feel strongly confident that their jobs are secure. The study links job security confidence with higher engagement and productivity, underlining the importance of clearer skills pathways and more transparent career development.
Research from ActivTrak, presented in its 2026 State of the Workplace report (11.34 MB), shows that work is becoming more intensive despite efficiency gains. While productivity has improved and AI adoption is widespread, focus time has declined and collaboration continues to increase, suggesting organisations are accelerating work faster than they are redesigning it.
In an article, BCG reports that artificial intelligence is expected to transform a significant share of roles rather than eliminate them. The analysis highlights that many jobs already include a notable proportion of automatable tasks, reinforcing the importance of reskilling and job redesign as core workforce priorities.

Skills, ambition and workforce readiness
The study Workforce Trends 2026 by The Adecco Group finds that employee ambition remains strong but is increasingly shaped by the need for stability and relevance. Workers appear open to AI but expect practical support in building applicable skills, while flexibility and security are becoming equally important in shaping career decisions. You can download the report after filling in your details.
A study published by Chief and The Harris Poll indicates that female leaders are approaching AI as a tool to augment human capability rather than replace it. The research highlights a growing emphasis on governance, judgement and collaboration as key enablers of sustainable AI adoption. You can download the report after filling in your details.

Governance and organisational accountability
LexisNexis reports in its Future of Work Report 2026 (17.05 MB) that the rapid uptake of generative AI is outpacing formal governance structures. The study shows that many professionals are using AI tools without clear oversight, while understanding of internal AI systems remains uneven, making governance, trusted data and accountability critical challenges for organisations.
According to the Corporate Listening Tour report (16.68 MB) by ASSP, workplace transformation is increasingly shaped by broader organisational priorities. The report identifies themes such as workforce stability, ethical technology adoption and leadership based on influence, pointing to a more integrated and systemic view of organisational performance.

Engagement, wellbeing and labour mobility
The State of the Global Workplace report (22.91 MB) by Gallup shows that global employee engagement remains relatively low, with only a limited share of employees actively engaged at work. The research also highlights weaker engagement among managers alongside modest improvements in overall wellbeing, indicating a mixed organisational landscape.
A study by Newcom Research & Consultancy (in Dutch) shows that work happiness in the Netherlands has increased. The research shows variation across sectors and age groups, with younger employees reporting lower satisfaction, and links lower work happiness to a greater willingness to change jobs, reinforcing the connection between wellbeing and labour mobility. You can download the report (in Dutch) after filling in your details.
 

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