Creating People Advantage (CPA) is a flagship global report developed by the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and in partnership with the EAPM. It explores how HR is evolving as a strategic driver of business value.
Drawing on insights from more than 7,000 HR and business leaders across 115 markets and 25 industries, the 2026 edition highlights key priorities for CHROs and their teams.
The findings highlight a clear shift in the role of HR, from a primarily operational function to a driver of business performance. While many organisations have built strong capabilities in traditional areas such as compliance and employee relations, gaps remain in more value-creating areas, particularly digital, AI and people analytics.
For European organisations, this is especially relevant, as the focus on long-term workforce planning, leadership development and capability building reflects both demographic pressures and evolving labour market constraints.
About the Study
Since its launch in 2007, Creating People Advantage has been one of the world’s leading and longest-running HR studies. It assesses key people management topics by current capability and future importance to identify the most critical priorities for HR leaders.
EAPM’s Role
EAPM is the European continental member of WFPMA and leads the European dataset and engagement for the CPA study. Through this role, EAPM ensures that European perspectives are strongly represented in the global analysis and that insights are relevant to the regional context.
CPA Webinar
European report launch
Our European webinar on Creating People Advantage 2026 explored the latest insights shaping HR priorities. The session included the launch of the European report and a discussion on AI, skills transformation and what these trends mean for organisations across Europe.