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The global labor market may appear strong on paper, but a growing number of employees are feeling increasingly uncertain about their future at work.

A new international workforce study reveals that job insecurity remains widespread despite historically low unemployment rates in many countries. At the same time, millions of workers are putting in unpaid overtime, grappling with productivity concerns, and adapting to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

The findings come from ADP's People at Work 2026 report, one of the world's largest workforce studies, which surveyed more than 39,000 employees across 36 countries and territories. The report provides a detailed snapshot of how workers view their careers, workplace culture, job stability, and the growing role of technology in modern employment.

Workers Are Employed but Not Necessarily Secure

One of the report's most striking findings is the disconnect between strong labor markets and employee confidence.

Although unemployment rates remain near multi-decade lows in many major economies, only 22% of workers globally strongly believe their jobs are safe from elimination.

In other words, fewer than one in four employees feel fully confident about their long-term employment prospects.

The data suggests that economic uncertainty, technological disruption, corporate restructuring, and fears surrounding automation are contributing to a growing sense of insecurity among workers worldwide.

No country surveyed recorded a majority of employees who felt highly confident about job security.

Nigeria reported the highest level of confidence, with 38% of workers saying they strongly believe their jobs are safe. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Japan recorded just 5%, highlighting particularly low levels of confidence among its workforce.

Among major Western economies, the picture was only slightly better. In the United States, 28% of workers expressed strong confidence in their job security, while the figure stood at 25% in the United Kingdom.

These findings suggest that even in relatively stable economies, many employees remain concerned about layoffs, organizational changes, artificial intelligence, and shifting business priorities.

The Rise of Unpaid Work Across the Global Workforce

Another major trend emerging from the report is the prevalence of unpaid labor.

According to the survey, nearly two-thirds of workers worldwide perform unpaid work for their employers each week.

Approximately 62% of respondents reported working up to five unpaid hours weekly, while another 26% said they contribute between six and fifteen unpaid hours beyond their compensated schedules.

Even more striking, 12% of workers reported performing at least sixteen unpaid hours every week.

For many employees, this effectively adds the equivalent of two additional workdays to their schedules without additional compensation.

The issue becomes even more pronounced among senior professionals.

Managers, executives, and business leaders reported some of the highest levels of unpaid work. Half of upper-level managers and C-suite executives said they regularly work six or more unpaid hours each week, while one in five reported exceeding sixteen unpaid hours.

These findings highlight a growing challenge in today's workplace culture, where expectations around availability, productivity, and performance often extend well beyond official working hours.

The Hidden Cost of Going Above and Beyond

While unpaid work is frequently viewed as a sign of dedication and commitment, the report suggests the relationship is more complex.

Employees who invested the highest number of unpaid hours often reported stronger engagement and a greater sense of purpose in their roles.

Many viewed their work as meaningful and felt deeply connected to their organizations.

However, these same workers were also more likely to experience negative outcomes.

The survey found that employees contributing significant amounts of unpaid labor were more likely to report lower productivity levels, reduced overall well-being, and a stronger desire to seek employment elsewhere.

This suggests that while commitment can boost engagement, excessive workloads may eventually contribute to burnout, dissatisfaction, and employee turnover.

Workplace experts have increasingly warned that chronic overwork can negatively affect mental health, productivity, and long-term retention.

Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Employee Experiences

Artificial intelligence continues to transform workplaces around the world, becoming an increasingly important part of daily operations across industries.

Since the public launch of advanced generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and other large language models, organizations have rapidly integrated AI into workflows involving research, content creation, customer service, coding, analytics, and administrative tasks.

ADP's research shows that employees who frequently use AI tools generally report more positive workplace experiences.

Regular AI users were more likely to feel engaged, less stressed, and more connected to their colleagues than workers who rarely or never used AI technologies.

The data suggests that AI may be helping employees manage workloads more effectively and reduce certain workplace pressures.

Interestingly, workers who used AI every day were also significantly more likely to say they belonged to high-performing teams and enjoyed stronger workplace collaboration.

Why AI Users Feel Less Productive

Despite the positive benefits, the survey uncovered a surprising contradiction.

Daily AI users were four times more likely than non-users to say they felt less productive than they could be.

At first glance, this seems counterintuitive given AI's reputation as a productivity-enhancing technology.

Researchers suggest the phenomenon may be psychological rather than operational.

As AI automates more tasks and speeds up workflows, employees may develop higher expectations for what they should accomplish in a given day. Even when productivity improves objectively, workers may feel they could be doing even more.

This "productivity paradox" has become an increasingly common discussion among workplace experts studying AI adoption.

The technology may be raising standards faster than it raises employee satisfaction with their own performance.

AI Users Show Higher Workplace Engagement

While productivity perceptions remain mixed, engagement levels among AI users were notably stronger.

Among workers who reported using artificial intelligence every day, 30% described themselves as fully engaged in their jobs.

By comparison, only 14% of employees who never use AI reported the same level of engagement.

The difference suggests that workers who embrace emerging technologies may feel more empowered, connected, and involved in their organizations.

As companies continue investing heavily in AI initiatives, these findings may encourage employers to expand training programs and increase employee access to workplace AI tools.

Employee Engagement Remains a Global Challenge

Despite modest improvements since the pandemic, employee engagement remains one of the biggest challenges facing employers.

According to the report, only 19% of workers worldwide classify themselves as fully engaged at work.

That means more than four out of five employees are either partially engaged or disconnected from their jobs.

Engagement levels varied significantly across regions.

Brazil recorded the highest engagement rate among surveyed countries, with 29% of workers reporting strong engagement. China recorded the lowest level at just 11%.

From a regional perspective, the Middle East and Africa posted the highest engagement rate at 25%, while Asia-Pacific ranked lowest at 15%.

The findings reinforce concerns among business leaders about productivity, retention, workplace culture, and employee motivation.

Investment in Employees Makes a Major Difference

One of the strongest patterns identified in the research was the relationship between employee development and engagement.

Workers who strongly believed their employer was investing in their growth, skills, and career development were dramatically more engaged than those who felt unsupported.

More than half—53%—of employees who felt their organization actively invested in them reported being fully engaged at work.

Among workers who did not feel supported, engagement dropped sharply to just 12%.

The findings suggest that professional development initiatives, training programs, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement pathways can have a significant impact on workforce satisfaction and performance.

Purpose Has Become a Competitive Advantage

Beyond compensation and benefits, employees increasingly want to feel that their work has meaning.

The report found that workers who believe their jobs have purpose are 12.5 times more likely to be fully engaged than those who do not.

This insight reflects a broader shift in workplace expectations, particularly among younger generations who increasingly prioritize meaningful work alongside financial rewards.

Organizations that help employees connect their daily responsibilities to larger goals may be better positioned to improve engagement, strengthen retention, and build more resilient workplace cultures.

The Bigger Picture

The ADP findings paint a complex picture of today's global workforce.

Employees are adapting to artificial intelligence, contributing significant amounts of unpaid labor, and operating in historically strong labor markets. Yet despite these conditions, confidence in job security remains surprisingly low.

At the same time, engagement challenges continue to persist across industries and regions.

For employers, the message is clear: investing in employee development, reducing unnecessary workplace stress, fostering meaningful work, and embracing technology responsibly may be the key factors that determine workforce success in the years ahead.

As AI adoption accelerates and workplace expectations continue evolving, organizations that prioritize trust, growth opportunities, and employee well-being will likely have the strongest advantage in attracting and retaining talent in an increasingly competitive global economy.

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