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Based on insights from 451 respondents across 21 industries, primarily small and mid-sized organizations, Omnia’s Talent Trends 2026 data shows that organizations are actively adjusting how they manage and develop talent to keep pace with change.
Leadership activity is increasing. More organizations are holding regular one-on-one meetings, running employee satisfaction surveys, collecting exit data, and using assessments to improve clarity and fairness in talent decisions.
However, progress is not keeping pace with the demands organizations are facing. While leadership effort is rising, improvements in development structure, consistency, and overall decision-making capability remain gradual.
For example, formal career development has remained below 50% in every year of the last 5 years of study. Internal mobility has increased by roughly 10 percentage points. At the same time, AI adoption has accelerated rapidly, reaching 42.3% in 2026, widening the gap between technology and readiness.
Organizations are doing more, but not yet in ways that consistently improve outcomes. Effort is increasing, but effectiveness remains inconsistent.
Despite increased effort, many organizations continue to face higher turnover. Many also lack clear visibility into why employees leave. Many also lack clear visibility into why employees leave. Leadership practices, particularly at the middle-management level, vary widely, leading to inconsistent employee experiences.
There is a growing disconnect between rapid AI adoption and the slower development of leadership capability, structured processes, and consistent talent decision-making.
This gap explains why increased effort is not yet translating into consistent talent outcomes.
It is now one of the defining challenges for organizations in 2026.
AI is creating new opportunities, but without prepared people, those opportunities are difficult to translate into consistent outcomes.
These findings reflect broader HR and talent trends shaping organizations in 2026, particularly in how AI, leadership, and employee experience intersect.
The following key findings highlight where organizations are making progress and where gaps remain.
Leadership activity is increasing across organizations, but without consistency in how that effort is applied, outcomes remain uneven.
Omnia’s 2026 Talent Trends data reflects this shift from 2025:
These trends show that organizations are investing more in leadership practices designed to improve visibility, engagement, and decision-making.
However, increased activity alone does not ensure better outcomes.
Leadership practices often expand during periods of accelerated change, but consistency across teams and over time remains difficult to sustain. The renewed rise in activity in 2026 aligns with rapid AI adoption, reinforcing the need for structured systems that endure beyond disruption.
Without consistency, increased effort does not reliably translate into improved talent outcomes.
Employees are paying closer attention to whether leaders listen, act on feedback, and follow through consistently, not just whether engagement initiatives exist.
Omnia’s 2026 Talent Trends data reflects this shift. While organizations continue to invest in engagement activities, employee behavior suggests a more cautious and conditional mindset.
Rather than exiting immediately, many employees appear to be reassessing their options internally, evaluating leadership follow-through before making decisions.
Engagement is no longer driven solely by initiatives. It depends on whether employees trust leadership to follow through consistently.
Employees are changing roles, teams, or responsibilities to gain exposure and momentum when structured development paths are limited.
Omnia’s 2026 Talent Trends data reflects this shift clearly:
Employees are not waiting for development systems to mature. They are creating growth by moving.
Formal career development has remained below 50% across all five years of Omnia’s Talent Trends data, while internal mobility has steadily increased by roughly 10 percentage points.
Movement is increasingly functioning as the default path to growth, often in the absence of structured development.
AI has moved from experimentation to everyday use, becoming an increasingly integrated part of how organizations approach talent decisions.
Omnia’s 2026 Talent Trends data reflects a clear acceleration:
AI is no longer limited to recruiting. Its use has expanded into employee development, performance management, surveys, and workforce analytics.
However, adoption alone does not determine success.
While AI adoption has accelerated sharply, the human systems required to support it have evolved more gradually. Manager capability, structured development, and decision frameworks have improved incrementally, even as talent decisions grow more complex.
The challenge is not resistance to AI, but uneven readiness to apply it consistently and responsibly.
AI can analyze patterns, flag risks, and offer recommendations. What it cannot do is apply ethical reasoning, understand context, or explain decisions in ways that build trust. Decisions involving hiring, development, performance, and movement remain inherently human.
AI is creating new opportunities, but without prepared people, those opportunities are difficult to convert into consistent outcomes.
Soft skills such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, communication, and ethical judgment are no longer secondary capabilities. As work becomes more complex and technology becomes embedded in decision-making, performance increasingly depends on how people think, interpret information, and apply judgment.
Soft skills have always been central to leadership effectiveness and team performance. In an AI-driven workplace, their role is even more visible, especially in guiding the responsible use of technology.
Omnia’s 2026 Talent Trends data reflects a growing focus on making these capabilities more visible and actionable:
Organizations are investing more deliberately in developing soft skills, recognizing that judgment, communication, and fairness must be built, not assumed. This reflects a growing recognition that soft skills directly influence decision quality and outcomes.
Soft skills have the greatest impact in situations without fixed rules, such as hiring decisions, performance conversations, internal movement, and leadership under pressure. When managers are not equipped to apply judgment consistently, organizations risk amplifying bias, inconsistency, and disengagement.
In complex environments, performance depends on how effectively people think, decide, and communicate, not just what they know.
The Talent Trends 2026 findings point to a clear shift. Organizations are increasing effort, adopting new technologies, and investing more in leadership practices, but outcomes are not improving at the same pace.
The gap is no longer about activity. It is about consistency, readiness, and the ability to make sound talent decisions in increasingly complex environments.
As AI becomes more embedded in how work gets done, leadership capability becomes the differentiator. For small and mid-sized organizations, this impact is even more immediate, where leadership consistency and decision-making directly shape outcomes.
Organizations that invest in structured development, strengthen decision-making capability, and build trust through consistent leadership practices will be better positioned to translate effort into results.
The data shows that performance in 2026 and beyond will not be determined by who adopts the coolest tools or moves the fastest. It will be determined by who builds the strongest human foundation.
If your industry is not listed, don’t worry – we specialize in creating custom solutions for unique business needs. Our team will work closely with you to understand your talent requirements, company culture, and challenges. We’ll then develop tailored job profiles that reflect the skills, attributes, and competencies crucial for success in your industry.
In the government and public services sector, where serving the community and managing resources efficiently is paramount, finding candidates with a strong sense of public service and analytical skills is crucial. We help you identify individuals who can navigate complex regulations, implement policies effectively, and serve diverse constituencies.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for various public sector roles enhance your ability to hire the right fit. These insights enable you to develop capable teams, improve service delivery, and maintain public trust in your organization’s mission.
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In the education sector, where shaping young minds and adapting to new learning paradigms is crucial, identifying candidates with both subject expertise and effective teaching skills is vital. We assist you in identifying educators who can inspire students, embrace innovative teaching methods, and contribute to a positive learning environment.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for various educational roles significantly increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. These insights not only help you support professional development and improve student outcomes but also create an engaging educational experience for all.
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In the hospitality industry, customer experience makes or breaks the business. Hiring candidates with an exceptional service orientation, operations efficiency, and adaptability is key to success for any travel and tourism business. We help you identify individuals who can create memorable guest experiences while efficiently managing operations behind the scenes.
Our assessments and customized job profiles for various sectors—from hotels to cruise lines and other travel sectors—enhance your ability to hire the right fit for every role. These insights enable you to foster a culture of service excellence and develop teams that can thrive in this dynamic, guest-focused industry.
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In the real estate and construction sectors, where project management and client satisfaction are critical, finding candidates with a mix of technical knowledge and people skills is crucial. We assist you in identifying professionals who can manage properties, adhere to regulations, and deliver quality results.
Our assessments and customized job profiles for roles across these industries increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. These insights help you develop well-rounded teams, improve project outcomes, and maintain a competitive edge.
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In the fast-paced media industry, where creativity meets deadlines and audience engagement is critical, securing candidates with innovative thinking and practical skills is essential. We help you select individuals who can create compelling content, adapt to new platforms, and understand audience dynamics.
Our cognitive, behavioral, and grammar assessments and customized job profiles for various media roles—from content creators and producers to sales and marketing specialists—enhance your ability to hire the right fit for each role. These insights enable you to nurture creativity, improve team collaboration, and stay relevant in an ever-changing media landscape.
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In healthcare, where patient care and technological advancements intersect, securing candidates who are committed to helping others and eager to learn is essential. We assist you in identifying professionals who can deliver high-quality care while adapting to the latest medical technologies and practices.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for various roles—at dental and healthcare practices, rehabilitation and research centers, and veterinary clinics—enhance your ability to hire the right fit for every role. These insights enable you to foster a patient-centric culture and support the professional growth of your team in your specialized healthcare sector.
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Dental
Healthcare General
Rehabilitation
Research
Veterinary
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In the staffing and recruiting industry, where understanding people and markets is essential, finding candidates with strong interpersonal skills and business acumen is crucial. We assist you in identifying professionals who can effectively match talent with opportunities and build lasting relationships with clients and candidates alike.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for roles across the staffing spectrum increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. These insights help you develop your team’s capabilities, improve placement success rates, and stay ahead in this dynamic industry.
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In the professional services sector, where client relationships and job-related expertise are key differentiators, finding candidates with a balance of technical knowledge and soft skills is crucial. We help you identify individuals who can deliver high-quality services while building and maintaining strong client relationships.
Our behavioral, cognitive, and grammar assessments and customized job profiles for various roles—from desk jobs to field jobs—enhance your ability to hire the right fit the first time. The insights from our profiles enable you to nurture talent, improve client satisfaction, and maintain a competitive edge in your specific service area.
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In the rapidly evolving IT industry, where innovation is constant and technical skills quickly become obsolete, identifying candidates with a combination of expertise for the current needs and the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies is vital. We empower you to select tech professionals who can drive your digital initiatives forward while adapting to emerging technologies.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for each role—from CIOs to database administrators, software developers, and IT managers—increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. The insights from our job profiles help you create targeted development plans, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation in your IT team.
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In the manufacturing sector, where efficiency and precision are necessary, you need candidates with a blend of technical expertise, high adaptability, and resilience. We help you identify individuals who can thrive in a production environment, embrace lean practices, and drive continuous improvement.
Our behavioral assessments and customized job profiles for each role—from production line workers to process engineers—increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. These insights help you develop talent, improve retention, and maintain a skilled workforce ready to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing.
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In the automotive industry, where innovation drives success and customer satisfaction is the highest priority, finding candidates with the right mix of technical mindset and interpersonal skills is crucial. We help you identify individuals who can thrive in this fast-paced environment, adapt to technological advancements, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Our behavioral assessments and customized job profiles for each role—from car dealerships to boat and RV dealers—increase your chances of hiring the right fit the first time. The insights from these profiles help you nurture talent, guide career progression, and keep your workforce engaged and productive in a constantly evolving industry.
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Business Development Center
Boat and RV
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In the financial services sector, where trust is currency and regulatory compliance is non-negotiable, securing candidates with analytical prowess, a commitment to quality, and client-centric attitudes is essential. We empower you to identify individuals who can navigate complex financial landscapes while maintaining the highest standards.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for each role—for credit unions, banks, and other financial institutions—empower you to make informed hiring decisions. The insights from these profiles enable you to provide targeted professional development, ensuring your team remains competent, compliant, and committed in an industry where precision and reliability are essential.
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Credit Unions
Banks
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In the insurance industry, where competition is fierce and turnover is high, the key to success lies in identifying candidates with the perfect blend of soft skills and analytical skills. We empower you to find these individuals who not only excel in their roles but also stay with your organization for the long haul.
Our behavioral and cognitive assessments and customized job profiles for each role increase the chances of hiring the right fit the first time. The insight from the profiles helps you provide the growth path your employees desire and keep them happy and engaged.
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If a job you need filled is not listed, don’t worry – we specialize in creating custom solutions for unique business needs.
