Less than a third of global workers feel safe at their jobs, according to ADP survey data.

Workers around the world are using artificial intelligence and generally spending unpaid time. However, many people still feel insecure about their jobs and are disengaged at work.

These are just some of the findings of the People at Work 2026 report by payroll and HR services provider ADP. The report surveyed more than 39,000 adult workers in 36 markets in 2025.

Despite global unemployment rates being at historically low levels, workers do not believe their jobs are secure.

The ADP survey found that just 22% of the world’s workers strongly agreed that their jobs would not be eliminated.

In no market surveyed was a majority of workers confident that their jobs were safe. Nigeria had the highest percentage of workers who felt safe at 38%, while Japan had the lowest at 5%.

Just 28% of people in the US felt safe, while just 25% of people in the UK felt the same.

They also say most workers give unpaid time to their employers.

According to an ADP study, 62% of workers worldwide say they work up to five hours each week without pay. An additional 26% reported doing between 6 and 15 hours of unpaid work per week, and 12% said they did 16 or more hours of unpaid work per week.

Unpaid work was particularly common among managers and senior leaders. According to the data, half of senior managers and executives said they put in at least six hours of unpaid work per week, and 20% said they put in more than 16 hours of unpaid work.

While this additional effort may seem like a commitment, ADP warns that it may come with trade-offs.

Workers who spend the most unpaid time are often highly engaged and are likely to find meaning in their work.

However, they were more likely to report feeling less productive, less likely to be successful, and more likely to be looking for another job.

Starting in 2022, AI tools such as ChatGPT will be introduced into the workplace, promising to increase worker productivity. However, ADP research found that people who regularly use AI are four times more likely to report being less productive than non-users.

“The more people use AI to do their jobs, the more they may feel like they are accomplishing less than they actually could have accomplished,” ADP writes.

But it’s not all negative for AI users. Studies have shown that employees who report frequent use of AI are more engaged, less stressed, and more positive about their teammates.

“More importantly, they want to feel like they’re on the best team. The more people use AI, the more likely they are to report that they’re on the best team,” ADP said.

Among people who use AI tools daily, 30% are fully engaged in their work. However, employees who did not use AI at all were only 14% engaged.

Employee engagement has improved since the pandemic, but remains low. According to ADP research, only 19% of the world’s workforce will be fully engaged in 2025. However, engagement varies widely by market. Brazil had the highest rate at 29%, and China had the lowest rate at 11%.

By region, engagement rates were highest in the Middle East and Africa at 25%, and lowest in Asia Pacific at 15%.

ADP said employers can make a difference by investing in skills, building trust, helping workers find purpose and reducing stress.

The relationship with skills was particularly strong. Among workers who strongly agreed that their employer was investing in them, 53% were fully engaged. When support was lacking, only 12% were fully engaged.

“Workers who find meaning in their work are 12.5 times more likely to be fully engaged than those who don’t. This could be as simple as asking people where they find purpose and giving them the opportunities they deserve,” ADP added.