Artificial intelligence and generative AI (GenAI) have risen to the forefront of workplace concerns, with employees globally now ranking them among the top three megatrends, according to The Adecco Group’s Workforce Trends 2026 Report.
The report is based on insights from 37,500 workers and 2,000 C-suite executives across 31 countries.
While AI ranks first and GenAI third – from seventh and ninth place, respectively, in 2024 – geopolitical uncertainty ranked second in the 2025 top influential megatrends.
The Adecco Group’s research also found that C-suite executives have placed AI (third place) and GenAI (second) in the top three influences in their own rankings for two years in a row.
According to the report, organisations are struggling to keep up with demand for AI upskilling. It comes as 71% of workers agree that their knowledge of AI has gone beyond the level of training offered by their employers.
Meanwhile, salary and work-life balance topped the list of reasons to both stay and leave a job. For the first time in four years, workers are staying in their jobs for the stable salary.
In 2024, salary ranked in ninth place for reasons to stay with an employer, but surged to third place in 2025. At the same time, salary has consistently been the number one reason to quit, year on year, and remained unchanged in 2025.
When it comes to reasons to stay, work-life balance ranked first, tied with company culture. This was followed by salary.
Salary topped the list of reasons to quit, followed by a better work-life balance and a lack of career progression.
“The world of work is at a pivotal moment,” Denis Machuel, CEO of The Adecco Group, said in a press release. “The workforce is sending a clear message: people want stability, fair pay and real opportunities to grow.”
“Purpose remains crucial, but people demand security during these times of constant change,” Machuel added.
“When we put job stability, workforce agility and inclusion at the heart of our strategy, we don’t just keep up with change – we lead it. The future belongs to organisations that lead with empathy, that listen, adapt and make every worker feel valued and those who invest to accompany their people to stay ahead of the change curve.”