Only a small fraction of workers around the globe feel confident their positions are protected, according to ADP Research's latest survey released Wednesday. The Today at Work 2026, Issue 1 report found just 22% of respondents strongly believe their jobs are safe from elimination, underscoring widespread unease in the labor market despite periods of low unemployment and ongoing economic growth.
The survey collected responses from more than 39,000 working adults spanning 36 markets. ADP's analysis shows that anxiety about job security is concentrated among lower-paid employees who perform repetitive tasks and among staff at the lower rungs of management structures.
Layoffs cited by large employers
The release of the report coincides with several large-scale workforce reductions announced by major firms. The examples cited in the report include:
- UPS - plans to eliminate 30,000 positions over the year.
- Block - cut over 4,000 employees in February, an amount described as roughly 40% of its entire staff, with the company citing generative AI's capacity to perform tasks previously handled by large teams.
- Epic Games - recently laid off more than 1,000 employees, representing about 20% of its workforce.
- Atlassian - cut approximately 1,600 positions, or about 10% of its staff.
- Confluent - announced a 25% reduction, equating to roughly 800 roles.
- Crypto.com - reduced its workforce by about 12%, or approximately 180 people.
ADP's chief economist, Dr. Nela Richardson, summarized the report's central paradox: "Despite three years of historically low global unemployment and steady economic growth, our data reveals widespread job insecurity expressed by workers worldwide."
Job security and workplace outcomes
The report ties job-security perceptions closely to measures of engagement and productivity. Workers who believe their roles are secure were found to be six times more likely to be fully engaged on the job, 3.3 times more likely to report being productive, and twice as likely to say they do not intend to leave their employer.
Confidence in job security differs markedly by level within organizations. Only 18% of individual contributors and 21% of frontline managers strongly agreed their jobs were safe from elimination. That share rises modestly to 23% among middle managers, 31% among upper managers, and 35% among C-suite executives.
AI use and perceptions
The survey documents varied AI usage patterns and mixed associations with confidence and engagement. According to ADP, 20% of workers report using AI nearly every day, 30% use it multiple times a week, and 15% have never used it.
Daily AI users were four times more likely than non-users to report feeling less productive than they believe they could be. At the same time, daily AI users reported higher engagement: 30% of those who use AI every day said they were fully engaged at work, compared with only 14% of workers who never use AI.
Age, skills confidence and employer investment
Confidence in skills and prospects to advance also varies by age. Only 18% of workers aged 55 to 64 and 19% of workers 65 and older strongly agreed they have the skills needed to advance. Younger cohorts report higher confidence, with 29% of workers aged 18 to 26 and 30% of those aged 27 to 39 strongly agreeing they possess the skills to progress.
Expectations about AI's near-term effects on jobs are similarly age-skewed. One fifth of workers aged 18 to 26 strongly agree AI will positively impact their job in the next year. This optimism falls to 15% among workers aged 40 to 54 and to 10% among those aged 55 to 64.
ADP's chief talent officer, Jay Caldwell, framed the findings around employer responsibilities: "Workers who clearly see the role their existing skillsets will play in an organization's future and investment by their employers in helping them develop skills of the future will be more engaged, productive and have the confidence to thrive in this next era of work."
What the data makes clear
The ADP survey presents a picture of a workforce unsettled about job security despite broader labor market strength. Perceptions vary by pay level, job repetitiveness, organizational rank, frequency of AI use, and age. The report connects these perceptions to measurable differences in engagement and perceived productivity, and it highlights uneven confidence in skills and the potential impact of AI across age groups.