Seventy-seven percent of frontline retail employees report feeling burnt out at work at least “sometimes,” according to recent research from UKG, a leading global AI platform unifying HR, pay, and workforce management. The research also revealed that more than half (58%) are currently not using AI to support them at work, lagging behind other industries, but the frontline workers who do use AI the most are burned out the least. UKG will be at NRF 2026 in New York, New York January 11-13 to discuss these findings and how the right AI tools can empower retailers to better harness AI to create more productive and balanced workplace experiences. 

Corey Spencer, General Manager and Group Vice President of AI at UKG, will also be speaking at NRF 2026 as part of agentic roundtable discussions, including “People vs. Profit? Resolving the Retail Dilemma with AI-Powered Workforces,” facilitated by UKG. UKG’s Workforce Operating Platform is used by 69 of the NRF Top 100 retailers and will be on display at booth #5720.

“The good news is that nearly half of frontline retail employees already feel positive about using AI to work more efficiently,” said Spencer. “UKG’s AI-first Workforce Operating Platform gives customers the data they need to make better business decisions and empowers frontline employees with the balance and flexibility they crave while preparing the workforce for what comes next.” 

Arming Retailers with the Right Insights

UKG is the #1 workforce management solution provider globally by market share, and continues to launch AI-first innovations for the UKG Workforce Operating Platform to help retailers accelerate hiring, streamline operations, transform pay, and drive collaboration, including the following: 

• Seventy-three percent of frontline retail employees would at least “somewhat” trust AI to recommend new roles within their company. UKG® Rapid Hire reduces time-to-hire to just a few days and saves managers several hours per week by automating 90% of repetitive hiring tasks. For job candidates, Rapid Hire uses a chat-style AI-interface to pair people with open roles, replacing the traditional and laborious application process with a focus on skills.
• Seventy-seven percent of frontline retail employees report that they would at least “somewhat” trust AI to recommend a work schedule that aligns with their preferences and availability, and 74% would at least “somewhat” trust AI to find coverage for shifts they can’t work. Dynamic Labor Management helps retailers identify staffing gaps and react to fluctuations in customer demand in real-time. The solution continuously analyzes demand data, schedules, actual foot traffic, and forecasts to provide instant recommendations that optimize staffing and labor costs.
• Thirty-six percent of frontline retail employees would want AI to search the company handbook for information and summarize company policies, and 35% would want AI to help them use or understand their benefits. 

   

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