SHRM Frames Employee Experience as Top 2026 HR Priority

SHRM has published materials framing employee experience (EX) as a top priority for HR leaders in 2026. According to SHRM's employee experience topic hub, the organization points to its 2026 State of the Workplace Report and 2026 CHRO Priorities and Perspectives report as evidence that EX ranks among HR's leading concerns amid economic uncertainty, AI adoption, and changing employee expectations.

What SHRM's research reports

SHRM's 2026 State of the Workplace Report, based on responses from 1,845 U.S. workers at organizations with formal HR departments, found that 32% of respondents named employee experience among their top three priorities for HR in 2026, tied with total rewards at 32% and ahead of learning and development at 29%, according to SHRM. The same hub cites additional figures: 72% of HR professionals believe workers have higher expectations of employers, 31% of HR professionals and executives say employee experience is eroding or contracting, and 46% of CHROs report maintaining employee morale as a challenge, according to SHRM.

How SHRM defines employee experience

In its guide to employee experience, SHRM defines EX as the overall journey an individual has while working for an organization, encompassing daily workplace encounters, company culture, leadership style, available tools, and the work environment. SHRM's guide distinguishes EX from employee engagement, describing engagement as one component of the broader experience rather than an equivalent concept.

SHRM's vendor directory lists a range of providers

SHRM's vendor directory includes an Employee Experience category listing more than two dozen companies. Listed providers include Quantum Workplace, described in the directory as an all-in-one HR platform with a 4.5 out of 5 rating based on 141 reviews; HR Works, described as an HR outsourcing provider serving clients across the United States for more than 30 years; bswift Engagement Solutions, described as an internal communication strategy provider; Talent Authority, whose directory listing shows 100 products and 43 white papers; and SelectionLink, described as a SHRM preferred provider offering AI-based HR software and services. The directory does not disclose methodology for its ratings, review counts, or preferred-provider designations.

Related academic research

A 2024 systematic review published in SAGE Open, examining 78 peer-reviewed articles from 2010 to 2023, reports that line managers are typically seen as playing a crucial role in implementing human resource management practices and enhancing inclusive workplaces. Separately, a 2023 study published in the International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal by Springer surveyed 1,051 employees at companies in Poland and reported associations among workplace well-being, employee development, employee retention, job engagement, and employee satisfaction.

MarketScale analysis: Organizations evaluating EX-related purchases may want to clarify what functions a vendor's rating, review count, or preferred-provider label actually reflects, since SHRM's directory listings do not detail sourcing or verification methods.