The Global People Resilience Study 2026, published by Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) in collaboration with the Oxford Research & Development Partners (Oxford), has revealed that financial insecurity remains a major concern for Malaysian workers.
Malaysian workers scored 4.26 on the Personal Resilience Index, above the global average of 4.11 and close to the global high of 4.38, with 39% of the workforce in the "thriving" band. The highest-scoring items are drive to learn new skills and confidence in reaching goals, suggesting a workforce that is motivated and forward-looking.
However, the study identifies financial resilience as Malaysia's clearest opportunity to strengthen overall resilience. It is the weakest-scoring domain despite being one of the most powerful drivers. 39% of Malaysian workers report not having a savings buffer to fall back on, and confidence that insurance and takaful protection meet their needs scores among the lowest of all items measured.
Globally, only 51% of workers feel confident they could cover a few months without income, and only 61% believe their insurance and takaful protection meet their needs. This is significant because unexpected setbacks, whether illness, a sudden loss of income, or caring responsibilities, can quickly create financial pressure that makes it harder for people to stay focused, productive, and confident at work.
Zurich Malaysia chief people officer Teo Mye Lene said that Malaysians have shown remarkable resilience in the face of uncertainty, but resilience is strongest when it is backed by financial security. “With nearly four in ten workers lacking emergency savings, building financial resilience has never been more important. At Zurich Malaysia, we believe financial resilience is the foundation of confidence. By helping people prepare for life's uncertainties, we empower them to adapt, recover, and thrive through whatever comes next," she said.
Physical health is country’s strongest resilience driver
Physical health emerges as the strongest driver of overall resilience in Malaysia and also scores highest of all domains. While this represents a position of strength, the study cautions that it should not be taken for granted. Sleep quality, nutrition and energy management all contribute to sustained resilience, and only 12% of Malaysian workers report poor sleep quality, better than the global average of 17%. As work patterns continue to shift, employers who invest in sustaining this advantage will be better positioned to maintain workforce resilience over time.
Digital fluency as an emerging catalyst
The research also highlights digital adaptability as an emerging dimension of workforce readiness. In Malaysia, 37% of workers use generative AI daily, above the global average of 32%. Across the study, regular users of generative AI report higher resilience scores, suggesting that confidence in navigating new technologies may increasingly shape how well employees adapt to change.
The Global People Resilience Study surveyed 11,175 working-age adults across 16 countries, with per-country samples ranging from 499 to 1,110. Respondents were aged 18 to 69 (mean age 38) and the sample was close to gender-balanced at 49% women and 51% men. Markets covered in Asia include Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.