ADP Research: From Punch Clocks to the TikTok Generation, a Multigenerational Workforce Is Shaping the Future of Work in China

21 October, 2026

SHANGHAI, October 21, 2026 — Employees in China ages 18 to 64 show a strong desire for career development and confidence in their growth prospects across career stages, according to ADP Research’s People at Work 2026 generational workforce study. Unlike the global pattern, where confidence in skills generally declines with age, employees in China report progressively higher skills confidence across older age groups. Younger workers also report particularly strong expectations for promotion. With five generations now working together, employers face important talent strategy priorities: tailoring development support to different career stages and helping employees with diverse strengths collaborate across generations.

Globally, confidence in having the skills needed for future career advancement generally declines across older age groups. The share of respondents who believe they have the skills needed to advance their careers over the next three years is 29% among those ages 18 to 26, 30% among those ages 27 to 39, 24% among those ages 40 to 54 and 18% among those ages 55 to 64.

China, however, shows the opposite pattern. The share of respondents who believe they have the skills needed to advance their careers over the next three years increases across age groups: 24% among those ages 18 to 26, 26% among those ages 27 to 39, 29% among those ages 40 to 54 and 32% among those ages 55 to 64. Respondents in China ages 40 to 54 and 55 to 64 report greater confidence than their global peers in the same age groups. These findings point to strong confidence in the skills needed for career advancement among mid-career and more experienced workers in China, alongside a continued desire for growth.

Respondents across age groups in China also report positive expectations for promotion. The share expecting a promotion within the next year is 66% among those ages 18 to 26, 73% among those ages 27 to 39 and 68% among those ages 40 to 54. Among respondents ages 55 to 64, 56% expect a promotion, compared with 21% of their global peers. Together, the findings show that optimism about career development and future growth opportunities extends across generations and career stages in China.

“Having five generations in the workplace brings employers not only different needs, but also complementary capabilities,” said Lily Ma, General Manager of ADP North Asia. “Younger workers bring digital skills, innovative thinking and adaptability to technology, while more experienced workers have accumulated extensive industry experience, organizational knowledge and judgment. For employers, the key is not to categorize employees by age, but to understand the strengths and development needs associated with different career stages. Through targeted development programs and intergenerational collaboration, employers can bring together experience, skills and innovation and turn them into a source of organizational growth.”

Businesses are undergoing profound changes in workforce composition, job design and skills requirements as demographics shift, reforms to gradually raise the statutory retirement age move forward, and generative AI is integrated into workflows at an accelerating pace.

Ma added: “In a rapidly changing work environment, employers need a human-centered, data-driven approach to human capital management that provides targeted skills support for employees at different career stages. By establishing intergenerational mentoring programs, enabling two-way learning and knowledge sharing, and intentionally fostering collaboration across generations, employers can better integrate experience, judgment and digital skills. This can translate the advantages of a multigenerational workforce into stronger collaboration, productivity and innovation, laying the foundation for long-term competitiveness.”

To view the latest People at Work 2026 Report, click here.

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About “People at Work 2026” Report Series Methodology

People at Work 2026 features survey findings derived from ADP Research's annual Global Workforce Survey of more than 39,000 working adults in 36 markets to uncover global workforce sentiment, an examination of how people are navigating the complexities of a changing world. The report presents worker sentiment data sifted by geography, job type, and other dimensions, providing employers with a fine-tuned and granular view of the global workforce that can be used to better understand their workforce and drive growth through data-driven talent decisions.

The 2025 Global Workforce Survey collected responses between July 21 and August 4, 2025, from a random sample, stratified by age and gender, of more than 39,000 working adults in 36 markets, to provide regional and market comparisons of worker sentiment. Respondents come from a wide variety of industries, educational backgrounds, on-site and remote work environments, work types, and skill sets. They represent a range of management and individual contributor roles, working for employers of all sizes.

To view the latest People at Work 2026, in addition to previous versions, visit here: People at Work: A Global Workforce View | ADP

About ADP Research
The mission of ADP Research is to make the future of work more productive through data-driven discovery. Companies, workers, and policy makers rely on our finely tuned data and unique perspective to make informed decisions that impact workplaces around the world. To subscribe to monthly email alerts or obtain additional information about ADP Research, including employment and pay data, methodology, and a calendar of release dates, please visit https://www.adpresearch.com.

About ADP (NASDAQ: ADP)
ADP has been shaping the world of work with innovation and expertise for more than 75 years. As a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, ADP continuously works to solve business challenges for our clients and their workers, from simple, easy-to-use tools for small businesses to fully integrated platforms for global enterprises – and everything in between. Always Designing for People means we're focused on just that – people. We use our unmatched AI-driven insights and proven expertise to design innovative solutions that help people achieve greater success at work. More than 1.1 million clients across 140+ countries rely on ADP's exceptional service to support their people and drive their business forward. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits, Compliance, and Payroll. Learn more at ADP.com.

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