Cegos Group Reveals Key Workforce Training Trends in 2026 Barometer

In celebration of its centenary, the Cegos Group has released an extensive analysis of global workplace transformations and their implications for future training strategies. The latest edition of its international “Transformations, Skills, and Learning” barometer highlights critical trends shaping organisations worldwide, including the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI), rapid job evolution, and the imperative for ongoing skills adaptation.

The study was conducted via an online survey between December 2025 and January 2026, encompassing 11 countries across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with the United Kingdom among the participants. It gathered insights from over 5,500 employees and nearly 500 human resources (HR) and training decision-makers from organisations employing more than 50 staff.

AI and Upskilling Dominate Organisational Focus

The survey underscores training as a pivotal factor in enhancing collective organisational performance. A significant 68% of HR directors identified AI and automation as the foremost transformations impacting workforce skills over the next two years.

Concerning job security, 31% of employees expressed fears that their roles might disappear, while 74% anticipate substantial changes in the nature of their work. HR leaders estimate that 23% of current jobs face skills obsolescence within three years.

Skills development is recognised as a strategic priority by 91% of HR professionals and 78% of employees. To address these challenges, HR directors are prioritising upskilling (65%) and internal mobility (57%) over external recruitment (46%).

Grégory Gallic, Director of Custom Projects at Cegos, emphasised, “The sustainable solution lies in the continuous development of skills internally… the strategic lever is to engage everyone in a culture of lifelong learning.”

Disparities in AI Usage and Training

Despite widespread use of generative AI, its application remains more prevalent for personal rather than professional purposes. The survey found that 79% of employees use generative AI personally, compared to 64% for work-related tasks.

While 84% of HR professionals believe their organisations can integrate technological impacts within three years, only 28% have established formal AI usage guidelines. Furthermore, just 32% of employees have received AI training through their employer, with nearly half (46%) acquiring skills independently through experimentation or peer learning.

Shifts in Learning and Development Approaches

Training methods are evolving towards “just-in-time” solutions embedded within daily workflows. Although 77% of HR professionals report organisational agility in meeting training needs, 41% of employees feel that training is often delivered too late.

On-the-job training is favoured by 64% of HR professionals, with 68% supporting the integration of learning into routine work activities. Additionally, 63% of organisations currently use or plan to use generative AI for training purposes, and 57% employ AI to personalise learning paths—a 20-point increase over three years.

For the first time, measuring the impact of training on operational performance (55%) has surpassed trainee satisfaction as the top priority for HR professionals.

Outlook Towards 2035

Looking ahead, both employees and HR leaders anticipate a work environment increasingly defined by technology, mobility, and agility, with 56% endorsing this vision.

Developing uniquely human skills such as critical thinking and creativity is expected to be the foremost priority by 2035, cited by 23% of employees and 21% of HR professionals. In contrast, supporting ecological transition ranks lower, with only 9% of employees and 8% of HR highlighting it as a priority.

Despite rapid changes, confidence remains robust: employees rate their adaptability at 7.1 out of 10, while confidence in their organisation’s adaptability stands slightly lower at 6.9 out of 10.