In a workplace defined by constant change — whether driven by technological breakthroughs, shifting economic forces or global uncertainty — one skill is rising above the rest: adaptability.

The 2026 ETS Human Progress Report underscores just how essential this skill has become. This year’s survey found that 77% of respondents globally believe that job security is reliant on continuous evolution. This demand for adaptability in the workplace has given rise to the adaptability imperative.

Adaptability is no longer a “nice-to-have” skill — it’s the key to becoming, and staying, employed today.  As workplace transformation accelerates, workers across the world increasingly agree that job stability comes from the ability to evolve. In fact, this year’s survey found that 77% of respondents across the globe, working for an employer, believe job security no longer exists unless they continuously adapt.

Consequently, 61% say they have shifted from seeking job security to obsessing over staying relevant. This may take the form of constant training or actively thinking about how to future-proof their career. In other words, the greatest predictor of long-term career success is no longer an employee’s tenure, but how effectively they can adapt and evolve.

Even as workers acknowledge the imperative to adapt, they’re facing a new challenge: what exactly should they adapt for?

The 2026 ETS Human Progress Report reveals a striking discrepancy between the desire to learn, and the clarity needed to do so effectively. Seventy-seven percent of workers say they proactively develop diverse skills, yet 71% still can’t envision the future jobs they’re preparing for.

This is the heart of the adaptability paradox. Workers know they need to evolve, but they lack guidance on which skills will matter most. As a result, nearly half (49%) feel unprepared for next-generation roles. Workers report that by the time they acquire new knowledge, the market has already shifted, making skill building feel like a moving target. For many, this can be overwhelming.

Not everyone experiences workplace change in the same way. How people navigate ongoing disruption varies widely, creating an adaptability continuum.

A major factor shaping where individuals sit on this continuum is their mindset. The results of this year’s survey identifies three adaptability mindsets found within the modern workforce:

• Adaptive Thrivers (41%)
  These individuals experience the highest levels of workplace change but approach it with confidence. They tend to seek new challenges and feel a strong sense of control over how they learn.
• Anxious Learners (39%)
  Motivated but overwhelmed, these workers recognize the need to evolve but struggle to decide where to focus their efforts. They find it difficult to choose a direction forward among a mass of emerging tools and unclear skill priorities.
• Paralyzed Pessimists (20%)
  Feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change and excluded from growth opportunities, this group has low confidence in their ability to adapt and is the least engaged in upskilling.

Understanding these mindsets can help organizations tailor their support for employees, while helping individuals understand what holds them back — or propels them forward — on their adaptability journey.

As adaptability becomes a core competency for the future of work, a new language is emerging around what it means to evolve: the adaptability imperative, the adaptability paradox, the adaptability continuum, and the adaptability mindsets that define how we manage change.

These concepts are shaping the way individuals learn, lead and work in an era where change is constant. To dive deeper into these insights and explore the data behind the shifting world of work, download the 2026 ETS Human Progress Report.