Productivity Top Outcome of Managing Risk: Marsh

Why It Matters

The findings demonstrate that robust risk programs can boost productivity and speed innovation, making risk mitigation a strategic lever rather than a cost center. Addressing the highlighted people risks is essential for sustaining those gains in an increasingly volatile business environment.

Key Takeaways

• 40% say risk management lifts workforce productivity.
• 36% link risk mitigation to faster AI adoption.
• Inadequate cyber threat literacy tops people‑risk rankings.
• Labor shortages rank second among emerging people risks.
• Risk rating scores gauge likelihood and impact over two years.

Pulse Analysis

Marsh’s latest risk‑management study, conducted between October and November 2025, surveyed more than 4,500 senior HR and risk professionals across North America and Europe. By quantifying the tangible outcomes of risk mitigation, the report moves beyond traditional compliance narratives, showing that 40% of respondents directly attribute higher employee productivity to proactive risk strategies. This productivity boost reflects not only fewer disruptions but also smoother workflow integration, which can translate into measurable cost savings and competitive advantage.

The survey also shines a light on the human dimension of risk. Inadequate cyber‑threat literacy emerged as the top people‑risk, highlighting a growing gap in digital awareness that could expose firms to costly breaches. Labor shortages and technology‑skill deficits follow closely, signaling that talent pipelines are strained just as organizations race to adopt advanced tools like AI. Financial insecurity among employees and escalating health‑benefit expenses round out the top five, suggesting that broader socioeconomic pressures are infiltrating corporate risk profiles.

For executives, the implications are clear: integrating risk management into strategic planning can accelerate AI rollouts and fortify resilience against geopolitical or climate shocks. Marsh’s risk rating score (RRS) offers a data‑driven framework to prioritize interventions over the next one to two years, balancing likelihood against impact. Companies that invest in upskilling their workforce, bolstering cyber education, and addressing labor gaps will be better positioned to capture the productivity gains highlighted in the report, turning risk mitigation into a growth engine.