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Global Talent Barometer 2026: What Workforce Sentiment Reveals — and How Employers Can Respond with Confidence
The 2026 Global Talent Barometer from ManpowerGroup reveals a workforce caught between rapid technological adoption and growing uncertainty about the future. For organisations adapting to the new world of work, understanding these trends is essential — not just to attract talent, but to retain, engage, and future-proof workforces.
Key Workforce Trends & Statistics
1. AI Adoption Outpaces Confidence
Regular AI usage jumped 13 percentage points to 45% of the workforce — showing how quickly AI tools are becoming part of daily work.
Yet confidence in using technology fell sharply by 18 percentage points — marking the first decline in overall worker confidence in three years.
While 89% of workers feel they have the skills to perform their current role, 43% fear their role could be replaced by automation within the next two years — up 5% from 2025.
This “confidence gap” — where workers use AI but don’t necessarily feel skilled or confident doing so — is a critical signal for employers: adoption alone doesn’t deliver value if people feel unprepared or unsupported.
2. Burnout and Well-Being Are Significant Pressures
Nearly 63% of workers report experiencing burnout.
Stress (28%) and heavy workloads (24%) are the primary contributors to lowered worker well-being.
Despite steady overall well-being scores, burnout remains widespread — undermining productivity and engagement.
3. Job Hugging Reflects Uncertainty
64% of workers say they plan to stay with their current employer as they wait for clearer pathways to future skills and roles.
At the same time, many employees are supplementing income or passively exploring opportunities — especially younger workers.
50% of all workers supplement their primary income, rising to 68% among Gen Z, showing that retention may be tied to financial security as much as loyalty.
4. Training and Development Gaps Are Undermining Confidence
A persistent training void shows that 56% of the global workforce received no recent training, and 57% had no access to mentorship or development support.
This lack makes future skills readiness a critical risk for organisations implementing or scaling AI technologies.
What These Trends Mean for Employers
The Barometer paints a picture of a workforce that is:
🔸 Technologically capable but not necessarily confident.
🔸 Cautious about change, often “hugging” roles rather than pursuing new opportunities.
🔸 Stressed or burnt out — particularly where development and support are limited.
This combination creates both risk and opportunity:
Risk: Talent loss, slowed adoption of new tools, disengagement, and a widening future skills gap.
Opportunity: Employers who strategically invest in people — not just technologies — can build stronger engagement, productivity, and retention.
How ManpowerGroup Helps Employers Navigate These Challenges
Data-Driven Talent Solutions
From sourcing specialised candidates to strategic workforce solutions, we bring real-world labour market insights into recruitment plans — helping you build teams that are not just capable, but confident and future-ready.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Global Talent Barometer shows that workers are ready for change — but many feel unsure about where they’re headed. Organisations that intentionally close the skills-confidence gap, support employee well-being, and build transparent pathways into the future of work will outperform those that focus solely on technology adoption.
