Technology and new skills are helping workers adapt to change and disruption.
While most say global politics, the economy, and the cost of living have worsened over the past two years, 69% say technology has been a source of positive change within their lives, and 60% say AI’s impact on their lives has improved. This optimism toward AI is strongest among workers in the Healthy WRI Zone, where 72% take a positive view towards the impact of AI.
The optimism around AI is translating into adoption
Workers at all levels are leaning into AI agents, with those in emerging markets leading the way.
Workers at all levels are leaning into AI agents
47% of all workers report using AI agents, compared to 38% who are using generative AI only. ITDMs (61%) and Business Leaders (55%) are ahead of Knowledge Workers (43%) in agentic AI use, continuing the pattern seen previously in the WRI of leadership and technical roles adopting new tools first.
China, Saudi Arabia, and India are setting the pace on agentic AI adoption
These markets show agent usage well above the emerging-markets average. Developed markets overall are still catching up: the US (50%), Germany (49%), and Australia (45%) lead that group, but still trail China at 67%.
Technology is only one of the ways businesses are adapting.
Organizational change is now part of the leadership playbook, as leaders look to build more flexible workforces, strengthen adaptive capacity and reimagine operating models for a post-AI world.
86% of Knowledge Workers experienced organizational change in the past year, and 88% of Business Leaders introduced it, most often by raising performance targets (37%) or cutting costs (27%).
86%
of Knowledge Workers report experiencing organizational change, which is now a constant way of life for the workforce.
88%
of Business Leaders have introduced organizational changes in the past 12 months.
The constant change is reshaping how workers think about their careers,
making agility and continuous skill development priorities even for top performers. Workers in the Healthy WRI Zone are more likely than those in the Critical Zone to anticipate a major career pivot in the coming years (58% vs. 41%). This mindset is especially pronounced among Gen Z and workers in emerging markets, who are more likely than Boomers and those in developed markets to prioritize building new skills.
With change and uncertainty now baseline facts of life in many industries, workers are becoming increasingly cautious and are less likely to take risks when it comes to their careers.
Two-thirds of Knowledge Workers say it feels too risky to leave their job right now, a trend known as “job hugging.” For leaders, the challenge is to build support that makes people want to stay, not simply feel unable to leave.
As work becomes less predictable, and employees feel unable to leave their current roles in search of entirely new opportunities, one in three (36%) workers are embracing side hustles or personal ventures as a form of insurance. Knowledge Workers with a side hustle or personal venture are more likely to be in the Healthy WRI Zone (38%, +9 points), suggesting companies may benefit from supporting employees who pursue these initiatives.
Taken together, the changes observed in this year’s WRI point to a workforce consciously adapting to seize opportunity rather than passively waiting for stability to return.
Workers may feel that now is too risky to make major career changes, but they’re building new skills, embracing technology, experimenting with AI, and creating additional sources of security where possible.