ETS Report: Adaptability Overtakes Tenure as Job Security's Core Metric

Event summary

  • ETS's 2026 Human Progress Report surveyed 32,558 workers across 18 countries, revealing 77% now view continuous adaptability as essential for job security.
  • 71% of workers cannot envision future roles their current skill-building targets, exposing an 'adaptability paradox.'
  • AI literacy shows the largest global skills gap (19-point difference between perceived importance and proficiency).
  • Only 45% of workers have access to credentialing programs, despite 85% viewing them as essential for career survival.

The big picture

ETS's findings reflect a structural shift where job security now hinges on verified skills and AI readiness rather than tenure. This accelerates demand for standardized credentialing systems, positioning ETS and similar organizations as critical infrastructure in the workforce adaptation economy. The report underscores how AI adoption is outpacing workforce preparation, creating systemic pressure for coordinated solutions across education, employment, and policy sectors.

What we're watching

Credentialing Demand
Whether ETS and competitors can scale credentialing access to match workforce demand, particularly for AI literacy.
AI Readiness
How employers will standardize AI literacy expectations and whether current training programs meet those needs.
Equity Gaps
The pace at which disparities in adaptability support for women, older workers, and rural populations narrow.