Marsh Identifies Cyber Literacy and AI Disruption as Top People Risks

Marsh’s 2026 People Risks report, released April 29, 2026, draws on responses from more than **4,500 HR and Risk professionals across 26 markets** and finds **inadequate cyber threat literacy** is the number one people risk globally, according to Marsh’s press materials. The report places **mindset barriers to AI adoption** and **technology skills shortages**, including gaps in cyber and AI skills, high on the list of workforce-related risks. Marsh and Mercer executives highlighted the interplay between human behavior and technology: Hervé Balzano, President of Health and Benefits at Mercer, said resilience depends on investing in people, while Ravin Jesuthasan, global leader for transformation services at Mercer, warned that treating AI as a simple add-on creates “real risk and inefficiency.” The report also flags labor shortages and leadership misalignment as significant people risks, and finds companies that manage people risks report improved productivity and faster progress on initiatives such as AI adoption, per Marsh.