Business leaders face growing challenges in maintaining engagement and trust across their organizations, according to findings in the second annual study surveying professionals across North America, Europe, and Asia from talent advisory firm DHR Global.

The 2026 Workforce Trends Report, released November 18 and based on surveying 1,500 white-collar, desk-based knowledge workers who are proficient in English and aged 21 or older, found that employee engagement has dropped sharply from 88% last year to just 64% this year — while burnout remained stubbornly high at 83%. 

The report’s authors say employees are calling for greater recognition, manageable workloads, and stronger organizational communication.

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“Culture, communication and clarity are the connective tissue of today’s workforce,” said Christine Greybe, president, leadership consulting at DHR Global. “Our data shows that employees are eager for direction and purpose from employers, but many don’t feel they’re getting it. Leaders who engage with authenticity, flexibility and transparency will not only retain top talent but also build the resilient cultures needed to thrive through disruption.” 

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Nearly half of employees (48%) cite overwhelming workloads as a top burnout driver, while 40% point to long hours — showing that automation and hybrid work models haven’t eliminated overwork. Only 34% say their organization has clearly communicated how AI will affect their role, leaving many uncertain about their future. The return-to-office divide adds to the strain: Just one in three employees fully supports their company’s RTO policy, and that number drops to 19% among early-career workers. As these pressures converge, employees are calling for greater trust, transparency and investment in growth — with 71% naming learning and development as the top driver of engagement. 

The report also identified what it describes as a divide over the importance of business culture. While 77% of executives say culture is “very important,” only 37% of entry-level employees agree, and just 36% of workers overall feel their culture is clearly defined or drives performance. 

Further on the subject of AI, while 39% of employees report productivity boosts from AI tools, one in five employees have encountered misinformation or errors from AI outputs. 

The tech industry leads in culture and engagement, the report found. Despite tech’s above-average burnout rates (58%), 78% of tech employees report being highly engaged and nearly half (48%) say their workplace culture is well-defined and actively shapes their experience — suggesting strong, well-defined culture as a differentiator. 

“Our findings underscore how essential it is for leaders to evolve alongside their teams,” added Priya Taneja, CEO of DHR Global. “Employees are clearly signaling what they need to stay engaged — growth opportunities, realistic expectations, and leaders who model the values they promote. The organizations that act on this will strengthen both culture and performance.”