This year, HR leaders who shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies will set themselves, their teams, and companies apart.
AI adoption, talent acquisition, and global employee engagement — the stakes are high, and the challenges are real.
G-P has been on the front lines of global employment for 13+ years. This hands-on experience gives us a clear view of hiring patterns, compliance shifts, and emerging trends before they hit the headlines.
Over the years, we’ve captured these insights in our Workforce Trends report to give you the foresight to prepare and stay ahead. Let’s look back at the predictions we’ve made, the shifts we identified early, and the trends that continue to define the global workforce.
2024: The rise of the global mindset
In 2024, we saw the workforce embrace borderless employment. Employees weren’t just open to international opportunities — they actively sought them out.
Our prediction: We anticipated that employees would start to value career growth opportunities, diversity, and international exposure just as much as traditional benefits. Forward-thinking organizations needed to reimagine communication methods and compensation packages to build and manage dispersed teams.
The reality: Research backed our forecast. The global workforce made its expectations crystal clear:
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Upskilling becomes a talent attractor: The State of Upskilling & Reskilling 2024 found that 85% of employees said access to upskilling opportunities influenced their decision to join or stay with a company. Upskilling is a strategic tool for attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive global market.
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International diversity and exposure were key drivers of employee satisfaction: A McKinsey Health Institute survey revealed that employees in diverse, inclusive workplaces reported 21% higher retention rates and greater job satisfaction.
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Global laws pushed for pay transparency: By late 2024, global pay transparency laws gained traction across the U.S. and EU, pushing organizations to adopt fair and balanced salary structures. This shift underscored the importance of equitable compensation in global hiring, as we previously forecasted.
2025: Overcoming the talent crisis with tech
In 2025, we witnessed an escalating talent crisis, especially in tech, healthcare, and manufacturing. This sparked the need for new budget optimization strategies.
The prediction: We warned that local talent shortages would become the #1 roadblock to growth, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). We predicted that employer of record (EOR) solutions and HR tech would become essential to every HR leader’s toolkit.
The reality: Local skills shortages were a daily reality for HR teams. By late 2025, the global talent crisis intensified across key industries, validating our predictions. External research confirmed our findings:
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Persistent talent shortages: Businesses everywhere felt the pressure. In our global World at Work survey, 84% of executives noted it was difficult to find skilled talent in their existing markets. Similarly, Manpower Group’s 2025 Talent Shortage Survey reported that 74% of global employers were struggling to find talent (capping at 77% in APAC, up from 45% in 2014).
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The rise of talent hot spots: Reuters research confirmed that multinational companies increasingly turned to global hiring to bridge talent gaps. India, for example, saw a surge in global capability centers (GCCs). An estimated 1,700+ companies employed 1.9 million people in 2025.
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Adoption of employer of record (EOR) solutions: Tech-driven EOR solutions became the smart path forward, especially after new visa regulations like the U.S. H1-B Visa. Everest Group reported that the EOR market is scaling rapidly, fueled by the globalization of workforces and SMBs adopting global-first hiring strategies.
2026: The AI era of human work
In 2026, all eyes are on AI. Our 2026 Global Workforce Trends outlines the five shifts that will define success this year.
Inside, you’ll get an action plan to lead in the era of AI, including how to:
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Flip declining employee engagement on its head while also solving internal skills gaps
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Guide your team through AI adoption, ensuring it benefits your people and business
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Step beyond shrinking local talent pools and the trending hot spots to dive into
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Simplify global workforce management, compliance, and localized benefits
The 2026 Global Workforce Trends gives you the insights to break out of survival mode and step into strategic mode.