We’ve Made Progress. But the Work Isn’t Done.
What is the State of The Hourly Workforce?
Each year, Legion publishes the State of the Hourly Workforce Report to reveal the trends shaping frontline work. Based on a broad survey of hourly employees and frontline managers, the report offers practical strategies to improve retention, increase labor efficiency, and create better employee and manager experiences through intelligent workforce management.
Whether you are benchmarking progress or looking for the next opportunity to modernize, the annual report provides actionable insights for navigating a fast-changing labor landscape.
Unlock the 2026 State of the North American Hourly Workforce Report
Modernization is delivering measurable results—and showing leaders where the next opportunities remain. Based on a survey of 1,890 hourly employees and managers, the 2026 report finds that technology is helping businesses deliver more flexibility, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen trust.
But that progress has revealed the next layer of work. Nearly half of managers still fill open shifts one person at a time, even as AI adoption accelerates faster than trust. The organizations that pull ahead will be those that combine intelligent automation with the explainability and human accountability required to put it to work with confidence.
Download the report to discover:
- How workforce modernization is improving schedule flexibility and reducing managers’ administrative burden
- Why AI adoption is outpacing trust—and how explainability can help close the gap
- Where employers can act now, from automating open-shift filling to expanding early access to earned wages and performance-based scheduling
Modernize with confidence. Give managers more time to lead. Start with the insights inside.
Download the Report
Manager Key Findings
of managers spend three or more hours per week on scheduling, down from 58.5% in 2025
still fill open shifts primarily by calling or texting employees one at a time
want scheduling tools that automatically place top performers in the shifts where they can have the greatest impact
Employee Key Findings
of hourly employees say more control over their schedule is their number-one ask beyond pay
are open to leaving their job within the next 12 months
name early access to earned wages as a top incentive, up seven percentage points year over year
Year-Over-Year Comparison
AI Adoption Is Finally Moving—and So Is Manager Anxiety
What it signals: AI adoption is growing, but trust is not keeping pace. Employers can help turn cautious, occasional use into more confident, sustained adoption by pairing automation with explainability and showing employees and managers how AI can work in their favor.
2025
Only 11%
used an AI scheduling tool and 5% worried AI would replace their role
2026
16.5%
use AI scheduling specifically; about 57% use AI in some form, while concern about role replacement rose to 11%
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