Conference Board: CEOs start 2026 on edge; uncertainty top concern
A cloud of uncertainty and worries about a downturn hang over the nation’s CEOs.
Forty-three percent of U.S. CEOs rank uncertainty as their biggest economic concern for 2026, followed by 35% citing the risk of a downturn/recession, according to The Conference Board’s “C-Suite Outlook 2026” survey.
Worldwide, uncertainty is a lesser concern, but still top of mind. Among CEOs globally, 29% rank uncertainty as a top economic threat, the second biggest concern behind recession.
In terms of priorities, the survey found that CEOs globally and in the U.S. still aim to expand and increase profitability, through augmenting business models, investments in AI and further expansion in the U.S. Business model changes ranked as the #1 priority for boosting business profitability in 2026, cited by 60% of U.S. CEOs and 52% globally.
Amid the uncertainty, improving financial planning is the top financial priority for CEOs globally in 2026, at 48%. It’s also front and center for U.S. executives, at 47%.
The Conference Board survey also found U.S. CEOs are struggling to pin down AI’s business value. Nearly half (46%) of the executives say their top AI priority is improving data quality and quantity to measure the ROI.
Other highlights from the survey are below.
AI
•Compared to global peers, U.S. CEOs most pessimistic about AI’s business disruption, with 38% — the highest share worldwide — saying that AI will have a negative impact on their companies in 2026 (this is regarding societal, demographic, and technological shifts).
•AI/technology use remains the top supply chain priority for both CEOs globally (34%) and CEOs in the U.S. (29%).
Sustainability
•Thirty-eight percent of U.S. CEOs — the highest share across regions — say sustainability investments in 2026 are not a priority. In contrast, 20% of CEOs globally say the same.
•The top sustainability focus of U.S. CEOs is circular economy initiatives, followed by sustainable use of key inputs and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Workforce
•CEOs across the U.S., Europe and Japan rank mental health as one of the top three social issues they’ll prioritize in 2026.
•Even as the labor market slows, U.S. workers retain bargaining power: 27% of U.S. CEOs name “expectations of higher compensation” as a key hiring challenge.
•CEOs around the world are scrambling to find AI expertise. Thirty-one 31% of CEOs globally say their top AI focus is enhancing AI expertise. The highest share worldwide is seen among U.S. CEOs, at 37%.
Geopolitics
•More than half (54%) of U.S. CEOs rank cyberattacks as the top geopolitical threat for 2026.
“Heading into 2026, CEOs are navigating converging pressures that are weighing on profits and growth,” said Dana M. Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board. “At the same time, these forces are spurring innovation, with most CEOs worldwide focused on revamping their business models.”
The C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey features over 1,700 executives, including over 750 CEOs. The survey participants —CEOs, C-Suite leaders and board directors — were primarily from North America, Europe and Asia.
