Adaptability Revealed as the New Foundation of Job Security in the AI Age, According to 2026 ETS Human Progress Report USA - English India - English

PRINCETON, N.J., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization, today released the 2026 ETS Human Progress Report, the third annual global study tracking how people around the world are navigating rapid workforce disruption, technological change, and shifting definitions of opportunity. Drawing on insights from more than 32,000 respondents across 18 countries, the report reveals a workforce actively adapting—but increasingly uncertain about how to align learning with what the future of work demands.

Now in its third year, the Human Progress Report documents a pivotal transition: job security is no longer defined by tenure or titles, but by adaptability, verified skills, and AI readiness. While workers overwhelmingly recognize the need to evolve, many lack clear signals, shared standards, and access to the credentials required to stay relevant.

"In the face of a changing job landscape, workers are quickly adapting," said Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS. "Four in five workers are building new skills, even though most can't envision their future job. Adaptability is becoming the new 'must have' skill."

Key Findings from the 2026 ETS Human Progress Report

A Three-Year View of a Workforce in Transition

Now in its third year, the ETS Human Progress Report offers a rare view into one of the most profound shifts in modern work: the move from static career paths to perpetual adaptation. Since its launch, the report has tracked how workers, institutions, and economies are responding to accelerating technological change, and how definitions of progress are being rewritten in real time:

Across all three years of data, a consistent theme has emerged: people are not resisting change; they are responding to it. Yet as AI accelerates the pace of transformation, the gap between effort and confidence has widened. Workers are adapting faster than the systems meant to support them, highlighting the growing importance of shared standards, trusted assessments, and equitable access to credentials that validate skills as they evolve.

The findings reinforce a clear mandate for employers, educators, and policymakers: adaptability must be supported by shared standards, trusted assessments, and equitable access to credentials, particularly as AI becomes a standard part of everyday work.

To explore the full findings and learn more, download the 2026 ETS Human Progress Report.

Methodology

This research was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of ETS from August 25, 2025, to September 10, 2025, among a total of 32,558 adults ages 18 or older across 18 countries (Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, UK, US, Vietnam. This year, the U.S. was oversampled to allow for additional state-level reporting to be release in the next few months. Data for each country are weighted, using a raking (aka RIM weighting) procedure, where necessary to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. Raking allows for weighting based on multiple variables to adjust each variable by as small an amount as possible.

About ETS

ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Our mission – advancing the science of measurement to power human progress – ensures our focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. We are committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. We deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions – including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav – and groundbreaking initiatives powered by our Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, we help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover how we expand our worldwide impact: www.ets.org

SOURCE ETS