Prepare for What’s Next
Decisions you make in the months ahead will influence your organization’s success in 2026 and beyond. Amid rising healthcare costs, evolving workforce expectations, regulatory shifts, and emerging risks, pressures are mounting, making strategic action essential.
Uncover critical trends shaping benefits, insurance, risk, and workforce strategies — and gain insights to help you prepare for what’s next.
Guide2026 Market Outlook: Key Benefits, Risks, and Workforce Trends
Uncover opportunities for growth with our predictive outlook, which is packed with forward-looking analyses and resources to help you thrive.
Navigate Complexity With Confidence
Turn future challenges into growth opportunities with strategies to mitigate risk, optimize your workforce, and build a total rewards program that drives results.
Key Trends
Discover six high-impact trends shaping benefits, insurance, risk, and workforce strategy in 2026.
Rising Healthcare Costs
National projections estimate a benefit-cost increase of 9% per employee — a historic high.
Growing Employee Expectations
Employees are seeking personalized benefits, and customized options are driving stronger retention.
AI Reshaping HR
Recruiting and HR are increasingly automated, with data analytics driving smarter decisions.
Risk Exposures Widening
Commercial insurance premium growth is projected to slow, but emerging risks remain a concern.
Ongoing Talent Challenges
Talent shortages and retention pressures will converge in 2026, complicating workforce planning.
Shifting Regulations
Regulations will impact everything from pay equity to retirement, requiring consistent monitoring.
Insights to Inspire Agility
Browse All Insights
How Key Trends Are Shaping Your Sector
See what benefits, insurance, risk, and HR shifts mean for your industry.
As colleges and universities prepare for 2026, they encounter a changing environment shaped by demographic shifts, rapid technological advancements, and evolving employee expectations. Key trends include:
- Intensifying cost pressures
- Shifting workforce expectations
- Increasing risk exposures
- Accelerating HR technology
The construction industry is on the verge of transformative change. Fueled by ongoing workforce challenges, rapid technology adoption, and evolving risk, trends shaping construction in 2026 include:
- Prioritization of talent attraction and retention
- Increased use of tech-driven risk management
- Stabilization of property and casualty insurance
Technological innovation, economic pressures, and shifting workforce expectations will continue to impact the manufacturing sector in 2026. Employers should be aware of the following trends:
- Decisions will be increasingly driven by data
- Building supply chain resilience will remain critical
- More firms are expected to embrace upskilling and reskilling
- Optimizing cybersecurity is expected to be a priority
For companies in the technology and life sciences sectors, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has significant implications, with a mix of tax relief and added complexity. Key updates include:
- Immediate expensing of R&E costs is restored
- R&E tax credits are harder to claim
- Bonus depreciation is bumped up to 100%
- Interest expense limitations are loosened
- Form 1099-K rule is adjusted
GuideAn Employer’s Guide to Navigating Change
Explore practical strategies, forward-looking insights, and actionable tools to navigate the many forms of change impacting organizations today.
Connect With CBIZ
Connect with our benefits, insurance, risk, and HR specialists to position your organization for success in 2026 and beyond.