Frontline workers not only play a vital role in organizations, but in our everyday lives. From nurses to teachers, to delivery drivers, and beyond, frontline workers deliver important services while representing their organizations directly to the public. However, despite these critical responsibilities, many frontline workers report that their employers are falling short in providing the support they need to succeed in their roles.
In the Kahoot! 360 Frontline Workers Report, you can discover the key challenges frontline workers are facing today and how organizations can set them up for stronger engagement, job satisfaction, performance, and retention. Based on a September 2026 survey of 4,000 frontline workers across the US and UK, this report delves into the growing pressures of the workplace and beyond, frontline workers’ short-term and long-term career plans, and the next steps employers can take to empower their professional growth.
Lack of training leaves staff and public at risk
More than half (58%) of frontline workers have been asked to carry out a task without the relevant training, according to the new report. This is perhaps unsurprising, as 37% of workers surveyed say they received no formal training at all in the past 12 months.
In addition to potentially lowering productivity and performance, these training gaps may also be creating unnecessary safety risks for both employees and members of the public. More than one in four (26%) say inadequate training has contributed to a mistake that could have caused physical harm to a customer, patient, passenger or member of the public, while 22% say inadequate training has put their own safety, or that of a colleague, at risk.
More than one third of frontline workers are looking for an exit
According to the survey, 39% of frontline workers are thinking about leaving their jobs in the next 12 months. Workers cite a range of issues, from financial strain to burnout and lack of training, driving employees to look for better opportunities elsewhere.
Higher turnover among frontline workers isn’t new, but the research shows that it is not inevitable. A solid 62% of frontline workers view their role as their long-term career, rather than a stepping-stone. This is critical, as some employers decline to provide adequate training because they believe frontline workers are uninterested in long-term growth within their roles. Without proper training support, however, frontline workers can feel unprepared and ineffective, leading to increased turnover anyway.
From one-off training days to continuous learning support
In frontline work, employees often have to make quick decisions, act independently, and adapt to new situations or changing needs. This makes ready access to knowledge and support essential. The organizations seeing the greatest success are moving away from treating training as a one-off event, and instead weaving learning into the workday. Kahoot! 360, the ultimate workforce engagement platform, makes it easy to provide information and training that employees can access anywhere and fit into their busy schedules. Teams can build connection and collaboration through live sessions, or assign asynchronous training that workers can complete at their own pace.
Learn more about how Kahoot! 360 can help your organization power up frontline worker performance, engagement, and retention today!
