The 2026 Global Human 
Resources Report

The 2026 Global HR Census surveyed HR professionals across levels, functions, and geographies to answer a deceptively simple question: who are we? The answer is more complicated and more interesting than you might expect.

Four findings frame our report.

1. We Are Divided: HR contains four distinct professional worldviews, and the gap between how CHROs see the world and how their teams do has never been more visible.
2. We Are Stressed and Working Hard: Hours aren’t the problem — stress is, but only beyond a certain threshold.
3. We Are Stalling in the Middle: HR professionals with 9–15 years of experience who sit three levels from the top are the most disengaged group in the profession, and the data is specific enough to act on.
4. We Are Best at CHRO: What distinguishes CHROs from everyone else is striking, consistent and worth understanding whether you are one or aspire to be.

The report includes plenty of analysis, charts and four direct recommendations for senior HR leaders. Download it, use it with your team, and let it start a conversation!