ETS report says U.S. workers want to upskill, but barriers remain
ETS said a 2026 report found broad agreement among U.S. workers that they must keep learning, even as time, cost, access and employer support limit action.
ETS released its 2026 ETS Human Progress Report — 50 States Edition on Aug. 14 in Princeton, N.J., saying U.S. workers broadly recognize the need to keep adapting but still face barriers to doing so.
ETS said 78% of U.S. workers agree job security no longer exists without continuous adaptation, and 85% say upskilling or reskilling is no longer optional. Even so, only 71% report proactively developing new skills, below the global average of 77% and below reported rates in India at 89% and China at 80%.
ETS based the report on a survey of 15,357 U.S. adults ages 18 and older across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Harris Poll conducted the online survey for ETS from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10, 2025, and ETS said the sample included at least 300 respondents in each state and the District of Columbia and was weighted to reflect U.S. Census demographic distribution.
The report said time, cost, access and employer support are slowing the move from concern to action. ETS also said conditions vary by state. Maine, Hawaii and Pennsylvania face the greatest difficulties across multiple upskilling barriers, while Alaska, the District of Columbia and Delaware report the fewest obstacles.
On skill-building behavior, Delaware led at 89% of workers proactively developing new skills, followed by Alaska at 87% and the District of Columbia at 83%, ETS said.
The report also pointed to gaps in preparation for work. ETS said 61% of employed U.S. college graduates feel their university did not adequately prepare them for the workforce. It also said 90% of U.S. respondents want educational assessments to measure both academic knowledge and practical skills.
ETS said the U.S. scored 93.7 on its 2026 Human Progress Index, compared with a global index score of 96.7. The company said the report identifies three priorities for a future-ready workforce: employers creating clear credential pathways, governments funding access through trusted credentialing partnerships, and educators integrating practical skills assessment.
ETS CEO Amit Sevak said workers need more time, resources and a roadmap to adapt, and said governors and CEOs share responsibility for workforce readiness. He said priority actions include investing in trusted credentials, measuring practical skills and building clearer pathways.
ETS describes itself as a global education and talent solutions organization. It said it serves more than 50 million individuals each year, operates in more than 200 countries and territories, and aims to ready 100 million or more people for the next generation of jobs by 2035.
What happens next is unclear from the report, but ETS is using the findings to press for broader support from employers, educators and state leaders. The release did not announce a policy rollout or follow-up event.
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