2025 Global Human Capital Trends

In our 2024 Global Human Capital Trends report, we introduced the need for organizations to focus on both human and business outcomes. But progress on optimizing human performance has been slow, even with new technology and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Plus, external and internal factors are creating tensions that complicate and inhibit decision-making.

Success moving forward will require leaders to make tough choices across multiple dimensions, asking themselves key questions across three areas, color-coded to match the corresponding trends below. How leaders answer these questions—and work to find balance in the tensions they inevitably create—can enable organizations to stop waiting and start thriving in today's fast-paced and constantly changing work environment.