The State of Careers 2025

The Career Imperative

Why Employee Growth Is the Smart Bet for Business Resilience

Is your career development strategy building resilience — or just checking a box? Today’s workforce is navigating constant change, from AI disruption to shifting skills and evolving employee expectations. But while transformation accelerates, many organizations still treat career development as a one-time event, not a strategic advantage. 

Right Management’s new report, “The Career Imperative: Why Employee Growth Is the Smart Bet for Business Resilience,” reveals how outdated career planning models are holding companies back — and what leaders must do now to build agile, future-ready teams. 

Drawing on global research, this second installment in our 2025 The State of Careers series offers a bold new framework for career development — one that aligns employee ambition with business strategy. 

Inside, you’ll learn: 

  • Why traditional career ladders no longer work and what to build instead 
  • How to close the gap between employee ambition and organizational support 
  • What global data reveals about the rise of experiential learning and internal mobility 
  • How AI is reshaping skills and why career navigation is now a business-critical capability 
  • Actionable strategies to embed career growth into the flow of work and empower managers as career navigators 

“The Career Imperative” equips HR and business leaders with the insights and tools to turn career development into a driver of resilience, engagement and growth. Download the report now and discover how to future-proof your workforce — by investing in what matters most: your people. 

Request Access to the Report

2025 State of Career Series: Part One

Career Equation

Are your talent and career strategies built for today’s workforce — or yesterday’s?

2024 State of Career Series

Last year's series is at your fingertips — click to view and download each report here.

The State of Careers

Are your employees truly engaged or just going through the motions?

The State of Careers

Why Fit and Development Are the Keys to Retention.

The State of Careers

A Roadmap for Leaders to Drive Employee Growth.