Synopsis

India leads the APAC region in job security confidence, with 30% of workers feeling their jobs are safe, significantly higher than the global average. Despite this, a notable gap persists between improving employment conditions and employees' perception of long-term stability. This sentiment is crucial for productivity and retention, with secure workers showing higher engagement and performance. However, confidence varies by job type and sector within India.

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India leads APAC in job security sentiment, with 30% of workers – compared to 22% globally --- expressing confidence that their job is safe from elimination, according to ADP Research’s latest People at Work 2026 report.

Despite relatively low unemployment in many markets, no country surveyed reports a majority of workers who feel confident about their job security.

These findings, among others, emphasise the opportunity for employers to reimagine their talent strategies and provide clarity to their employees, as advances in artificial intelligence and changing demographics bring new challenges and opportunities to the workforce.

Across APAC, only 18% of respondents feel that their jobs are safe. India stands out, with 30% of workers reporting confidence in their job security—placing it third globally and highest in the region.

While India leads APAC, the data still shows a notable gap between improving employment conditions and workers' perceptions of long-term stability.

“India is outperforming global and regional averages in job security confidence; however, the data still indicates a clear gap between employment conditions and how employees perceive their long-term job security,” said Rahul Goyal, Managing Director, ADP India and Southeast Asia in a statement.

“In today’s environment, employees are not just focused on job continuity; they are increasingly concerned about job relevance. As technology reshapes the nature of work, many are questioning whether their current roles will remain viable in the future.”

“Closing this confidence gap will require a dual focus. Employees must prioritise continuous upskilling to stay competitive, while employers need to be far more transparent about how roles are evolving. Clear communication, combined with sustained investment in skills development, will be critical to strengthening employability, driving productivity, and building long-term workforce resilience.”

Productivity and Retention Shaped by Job Security

Globally, the report finds that workers who feel their jobs are secure are twice as likely to say they have no intention of leaving. Job security is also closely linked to employee performance. Workers who feel their jobs are secure are six times more likely to be fully engaged and 3.3 times more likely to report high productivity.

“Job security has become a business issue, not just a workforce sentiment measure,” said Dr. Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. “When employees feel confident about their future with an organisation, they are more likely to stay committed, perform at their best and contribute more effectively.”

Confidence in Job Security Varies Across Workforce in India

In India, job security sentiment varies significantly by job type. Knowledge workers (37%) are approximately twice as likely to report confidence compared to skilled task (18%) and repetitive task workers (17%).

At a regional level, APAC workers in the finance and insurance sector report the highest levels of job security confidence, while those in accommodation and food services report the lowest.