Microsoft: 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report Work Trend Index Annual Report

Microsoft: 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report Work Trend Index Annual Report

The latest Work Trend Index Annual Report 2025 from Microsoft is based on a global survey of 31,000 employees, supplemented by Microsoft 365 usage data and LinkedIn labor market analyses. In many organizations, there is a growing “capacity gap” – between what is expected of employees and what they can actually achieve.

80% of respondents say they lack time or energyfor their tasks, while53% ofmanagersdemandhigherproductivityat the same time. The result: structural overload – and acute pressure to act on processes, priorities and collaboration.

One possible starting point is the targeted use of AI. The focus is on so-called AI agents, which act as digital colleagues and independently coordinate tasks, process information or prepare decisions – and thus specifically relieve human workload.82% ofmanagers plan toactively usesuch systems in thenext 12 to 18 months.

This fundamentally changes role models and work processes. Employees are taking on the role of “agent bosses” who have to instruct, integrate and manage their digital partners. This creates a new form of collaboration that goes far beyond the use of tools.

The report makes it clear that AI is not only changing tools, but also the foundations of work – how tasks are distributed, decisions are made and organizations are managed.