The Chief People Officers’ Outlook – May 2026 examines how geopolitical fragmentation, economic volatility and accelerating AI adoption are reshaping global labour markets and workforce strategies. As organizations navigate a divided outlook – with 50% of leaders expecting improved talent availability and 30% anticipating deterioration – skills mismatches, rather than overall supply, are emerging as a defining challenge.
Drawing on insights from the World Economic Forum’s community of more than 140 global people leaders, the report highlights three strategic priorities: redesigning organizational structures and job roles, expanding upskilling and reskilling, and scaling responsible AI and automation deployment across the workforce.
The findings underscore a shift from AI experimentation to implementation, alongside growing pressure from geoeconomic and geopolitical forces on talent access and workforce planning. In this context, agile talent models, internal mobility and stronger cross-sector collaboration will be critical to building resilient, future-ready workforces.
