State of HR 2026: Defining the Next Challenge
HR has never been expected to deliver more. This report reveals what’s standing in the way.
HR professionals
The demands of HR have fundamentally changed
HR is expected to shape workforce strategy, lead organizational transformation, improve productivity, guide AI adoption, and deliver measurable business value. Yet many HR functions are still building the capabilities, operating models, and ways of working needed to deliver those outcomes consistently.
- Just 19% of HR teams report clear accountability across the HRBP model
- Only 30% of organizations have defined AI use cases
- Up to 88% of HR transformations fail to deliver their intended outcomes
Discover what’s holding HR back
Drawing on research with more than 2,500 HR teams, 35,000 HR professionals, and C-suite leaders, the report helps you:
- Understand the six defining challenges. See how capability, operating models, execution, business value, transformation, and AI combine to shape HR’s biggest challenge today.
- Benchmark your function. Compare your HR team against thousands of organizations using objective research and practical benchmarks.
- Identify where to invest. Discover which capabilities, structures, and technologies create the greatest business impact, alongside which are becoming less relevant.
- Build a stronger business case. Use evidence to prioritize transformation, justify investment, and align HR with business outcomes.
Plan your next move with confidence
Whether you’re refining your HR strategy, redesigning your operating model, or preparing your team for AI, this report gives you the evidence to make better decisions.
Download The State of HR 2026 to understand where your function stands today, and what it will take to consistently deliver the business outcomes in an AI-driven future.
