AI and uncertainty dominate the workplace heading into 2027, according to new SurveyMonkey Trends report
Analysis of millions of surveys reveals businesses shifting focus to how work gets done, moving past broad sentiment checks to skills training (+151%) and customer resolution (+140%)
SAN MATEO, Calif., October 27, 2026 – SurveyMonkey, the world’s most popular platform for surveys and forms, today announced findings from SurveyMonkey Trends 2027, its second annual report examining the key business priorities and operational shifts set to shape the year ahead. Drawing on an analysis of millions of surveys sent by more than 260,000 organizations over the past year, the report identifies five trends shaping business in 2027.
1. HR shifts from culture-building to workforce readiness.
The volume of employee engagement surveys fell 14% year-over-year while skills training surged 151% and AI tool access rose 78%. Employees are feeling that pressure directly, with nearly one-third (32%) reconsidering their skill development because of AI.
2. AI goes from unknown entity to everyday coworker.
"AI" was the fastest-growing survey topic in 2026 (+45%), but inquiries shifted from abstract concepts to concrete tools. Mentions of "Claude" jumped 736%, "agentic" surged 459%, and "prompting" rose 116%.
3. Uncertainty becomes business as usual.
Uncertainty-related questions were the second-fastest-growing topic of the year, even as surveys about isolated disruptions like tariffs (-77%) and hurricanes (-91%) fell sharply. Companies are shifting away from episodic crisis response and treating continuous volatility as a standard operating reality.
4. Customer feedback moves from the scoreboard to the play-by-play.
Broad customer satisfaction surveys fell 20% and NPS survey volume remained flat, but frontline operational metrics surged. Surveys measuring support agent helpfulness climbed 342%, and feedback tracking resolution efficiency grew 140%.
5. Activity-based connection replaces routine networking.
"Mahjong" ranked eighth among fastest-trending survey title words, while "attendance confirmation" became the third-fastest-growing topic overall. Organizers are replacing generic networking mixers with interactive experiences that give people a clear reason to show up in person.
"What stands out heading into 2027 is how specific questions are becoming. The world is shifting, and businesses are looking beyond broad measures to understand whether their teams are ready, where customers need help, and how to adapt as conditions change,” said Katie Miserany, chief communications officer and global head of marketing at SurveyMonkey. "The most resilient companies in 2027 will be the ones that invest in an ongoing feedback loop. Staying close to key constituents is what turns hunches into practical, day-to-day decisions."
For the full findings and recommendations for acting on each trend, visit /learn/surveymonkey-trends/.
Methodology:
SurveyMonkey internal data is based on English-language surveys deployed worldwide. The analysis compares survey activity from August 2, 2025–August 1, 2026 with August 2, 2024–August 1, 2025. The report also includes findings from SurveyMonkey original research conducted throughout 2026.
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