MetLife Study Finds AI Acceleration Is Creating New Concerns in Today's Workplace
Research from leading benefits provider finds 61% of employees are concerned about the risks of AI—raising the stakes for clarity, skill support and benefits as work evolves
As the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace accelerates, MetLife's 24th Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS) reveals, alongside other findings, a workforce both optimistic about the technology's efficiency gains and concerned about how technological change is reshaping work, well‑being and long‑term security.
MetLife's 2026 EBTS, released today, shows that AI is already deeply embedded in everyday work: 80% of employers say AI tools are part of everyday tasks and 83% say AI is helping their employees work faster and more efficiently. However, as employers lean into AI's potential, employee concerns are intensifying:
- 61% of employees are worried about the ethical and safety risks, including bias, misinformation, and lack of accountability—up 5% from last year
- 59% fear that AI will make jobs or skills obsolete faster than opportunities will be created
- 24% say they feel like they need to compete with AI at work
Employers also acknowledge the tension, with 67% saying AI is creating new points of friction or mistrust between employees and management, and 54% struggling to adapt to the new ways of working that they believe employees expect.
"As AI is rapidly becoming a more significant part of everyday work, many employers are still working through what the integration means for employees and the future of their organizations," said Shurawl Sibblies, Chief Human Resources Officer at MetLife. "As technology reshapes how work gets done and how performance is measured, providing clarity around expectations and development is critical to driving the best outcomes for employees and businesses."
New Pressures are Redefining Employee Skills and Support
These pressures extend beyond productivity and performance. As employees face a softened labor market, financial concerns and the rapid reconfiguration of work due in part to AI, the study finds growing strain on workforce well‑being—making benefits, skill development and clarity around expectations critical to helping employees adapt and stay resilient.
The study finds that these macro factors are impacting employee well-being as holistic health continues to decline, reinforcing the importance of connection at work and benefits that support physical, mental, financial and social health—especially during periods of rapid change.
"Employers are being pushed to rethink what employees need to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace," said Todd Katz, EVP, Head of Group Benefits at MetLife. "Supportive benefits play a critical role in helping people manage change, build resilience and stay healthy—while skill development ensures employees can continue to grow and succeed alongside new technology."
Resetting Success in the Age of AI
Employers consider both AI and human skills essential and mutually supportive for advancing work. The majority (94%) of employers say human-centered skills, including judgement, creativity, collaboration, and problem solving—will be highly valuable over the next three years, while 71% also say the ability to work with AI and a willingness to learn new skills are critical for the future.
However, gaps in how employee success is defined and recognized may be stunting momentum: while 91% of employers say employee contributions are valued and fairly rewarded, just 65% of workers agree. This disconnect is reinforced by the fact that 55% of employees say success is judged primarily by output—signaling a growing need for employers to define success beyond productivity alone and strengthen support systems.
MetLife's new study frames this opportunity as "The Success Reset:" an approach that brings human skills, connection and modern benefits together to help organizations move from uncertainty to confidence as work continues to rapidly evolve.
About MetLife's Annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study
MetLife's U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study (EBTS) is a leading source of insights into workplace trends, employee expectations, and employer strategies. MetLife's 2026 EBTS is based on three quantitative studies from organizations of various industries and sizes—including a survey of 2,480 HR decision-makers and leaders and a survey of 2,541 full-time employees conducted in October 2025 and another survey of 2,550 employees conducted in January 2026. Respondents are aged 21+ and nationally representative of the full-time U.S. workforce in terms of demographics, job roles, and firmographics. New to the 24th EBTS, MetLife used cultural insights and semiotics to explore shifting employee habits, motivations, and feelings. The research is collected in partnership with STRAT7, a global strategy, insight, and planning consultancy. This release contains data collected for but not reported in the primary study.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
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