Performance is HR's top priority in 2026.
In 2026, HR teams are continuing to push performance management and engagement, but DEIB continues to languish.
Line chart titled “Performance is HR’s top priority in 2026.” Performance management (40%) and employee engagement (39%) lead priorities. Learning & development (31%), manager enablement (30%), talent acquisition (26%), and updating HR tech (25%) follow. DEIB programs (16%) have declined steadily since 2023, while performance rose sharply over the same period. Key insight: Since 2023, performance and DEIB have moved in opposite directions, with performance climbing and DEIB deprioritized.
