A new study of employees in 23 countries reveals employees are engaging in a “hustle reset” as they reassess where and how much they work, according to global professional services firm Aon plc.

The 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study study of more than 9,000 employees worldwide, including the U.S., UK, Brazil and Australia, found that a majority of workers have their eye on their next move and rather than staying motivated to grow their skill set as they prioritize well-being and work-life balance.

The study found that a surprising 60 percent of employees are already moving on and might or will definitely seek new employment within the next 12 months, revealing widespread dissatisfaction with their current job.

Those surveyed showed a low commitment to improving their AI skill set, with just over a third of employees globally feel motivated to develop new skills to stay relevant when asked about the new technology.

The survey found that AI expectations differ among executives and employees.

Twenty-two percent of founders and C-suite executives believe that AI will significantly replace jobs in their field, yet only 11 percent of entry-level employees believe the same.

Entry-level employees are 64 percent more likely to be unsure of the impact AI will have on their roles and 31 percent less likely to think that it will create new opportunities that require new skills in their field.

Demand for flexibility is on the rise, as employees rank work-life balance benefits – such as job sharing or technology-free hours – as third overall most valued benefit, Aon found.

Gen Z employees rank work-life balance programs as their second most valued benefit, just behind medical benefits, outranking paid time off, career development and retirement savings.

Hybrid workers feel the most valued by their company, the study found.

Fully remote employees are 52 percent more likely to feel undervalued and office-based workers are 10 percent more likely to feel undervalued.

Employees around the world are reassessing their relationship to their employer and more broadly the “hustle culture” of burnout and “always-on” ethos that has defined recent years of discourse around the future of work – a phenomenon Aon named the “Hustle Reset.”

“It’s a common belief that the employee trends that took hold during the ‘Great Resignation’ of 2021 and 2022 are over, but our study results show a more nuanced picture of the workforce landscape,” said Lambos Lambrou, CEO of Human Capital at Aon. “Despite cooling in the job market, employees are reevaluating their values and priorities and, as they look for their next move, prioritizing employers that will support their life outside of work.”

A strong company culture can help employers recruit and retain top talent amid the “Hustle Reset.” Behind competitive pay and benefits, employees seek businesses that are considered “a fun place to work” and “a strong fit with personal values” over all other factors when selecting a new role, the study found.

Forty-seven percent of employees ranked better-than-average pay and meaningful benefits as the number one factor influencing their employer choice, but culture is also a key attractor.

Considering this, it becomes even more important for businesses to use data and analytics to benchmark pay and benefits against market standards, ensuring they remain competitive.

Seventy-two percent of employees said personalization of benefits was important to them, yet only 41 percent of employees currently have a choice-based system of benefits.

The study also exposed vital gaps in communication between employers and their people, survey results showed that only 38 percent of employees who consider life and disability benefits important believe they have access to them.

“The results of our inaugural Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study reveal that employee expectations are shifting and the war for talent is far from over. Employers feel more pressure than ever to deliver a superior experience that retains strong talent,” said Lisa Stevens, chief administrative officer for Aon.