As AI expands, soft skills take center stage in 2026

• Key Insight: Discover how AI-driven benefits reshape benefits ROI and employee engagement strategies.
• Supporting Data: Remote job applications fell from 27% to 16% between early 2022 and late 2024.
• Forward Look: Prepare for 2026: rising demand for emotional intelligence and remote-work as premium benefits.
• Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

The benefits industry is in a state of flux.

AI is playing an increasingly larger role in how companies tailor benefit packages, and many HR leaders are using virtual assistants to answer routine questions from employees. 

These trends are expected to only grow in the coming years, as more companies across all industries integrate AI into their workflows. 

"Many platforms now include AI features at no extra cost, so making sure teams and employees are trained, aware of these features and actively using them will be essential," said Kara Ayers, senior vice president of global talent acquisition, total rewards, development and inclusion at Xplor Technologies.

In addition to increased AI use, soft skills like emotional intelligence and communication will become more important in 2026, and companies can also expect remote work to become a competitive benefit, Ayers said. 

Ayers recently spoke with Employee Benefit News about how these trends and others will impact the workplace in the new year. 

For benefit leaders, how will advances in AI change the way they work? 
Two areas where AI can impact benefit leaders' jobs are reducing workload and helping them create more effective benefits strategies. For instance, AI is able to help HR evaluate which benefits give their company the best return on investment and highest engagement, as well as where benefits budgets should be rebalanced to remain cost-effective and maximize value.

Read more: Why benefit managers can't ignore tech and AI any longer

Having different communication tools and virtual assistants gives employees the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers in real time, reducing workload. Some of these tools can even guide employees through enrollment, allowing HR staff to eliminate the number of Zoom calls they schedule during the enrollment period so they can focus on other tasks and priorities. 

How do you see generative AI changing benefits communication and education?
By 2026, generative AI is likely to transform benefit communication and education by creating efficiency for benefit teams, particularly in explaining benefits, comparing plans and delivering information in ways that meet the needs of diverse employee groups. AI-driven chatbots will continue to improve, providing real-time analysis and answers to employees' more specialized questions about their health and well-being.

Which parts of benefits administration are most ripe for AI-driven automation?
Compliance monitoring, auditing and employee support. For example, AI can track changes in Employee Retirement Income Security Act and regional statutory requirements, ensuring plans remain compliant without manual oversight. It can also review eligibility and plan documents, streamlining readiness for audits. 

Read more: How AI is disrupting retirement planning for the better

Today, the benefits team and I use Co-pilot to quickly locate documents and plan information, which is especially helpful as we manage benefits globally and navigate hundreds of files when specific or specialized questions arise.

What areas of well-being programs stand to gain the most from AI innovation? 
Data-driven personalization, proactive risk management and on-demand support. AI can analyze individual and organizational data to create tailored well-being strategies, predict which employees may be at risk for burnout or stress and enable proactive interventions. AI-powered tools can provide 24/7 support for mental, financial or physical well-being, offering employees flexible access to resources without requiring a human to be on call.

How will remote work become a competitive benefit in 2026?
Companies' top talent demands flexibility and work-life balance. This trend started during COVID when desk-based employees shifted primarily to working from home and both employees and employers saw the value of it. Now, with more companies moving back toward hybrid or fully on-site models, remote work is becoming less common. According to LinkedIn's Economic Graph, 27% of U.S. jobs applied to in early 2022 were remote roles, but by late 2024 this had declined to 16%. As remote work becomes less of a norm and more of a premium perk, it's reshaping how companies compete for skilled professionals.

With the rise of AI, will soft skills become more important in the workplace? 
As AI continues to automate technical tasks and streamline decision-making, soft skills will be an advantage in the workplace. Qualities like emotional intelligence, adaptability, communication, collaboration and critical thinking are more valuable than ever. Companies are shifting hiring priorities to focus not just on what candidates know, but how they connect, lead, and respond to change. As machines handle more of the "what," soft skills define the "how" and "why" that drive organizational success.