The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer report was released earlier this year, surveying over 33,000 people from 28 countries around the world. The annual survey measures public trust in business, government, media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), highlighting themes like polarization, economic anxiety, disinformation, the role of business, and rising activism. The findings in this year’s report, titled, “Trust and the Crisis of Grievance,” provide important takeaways for businesses, government organizations, and individuals alike.
Most notably, 61% of global respondents have a moderate or high sense that government and business make their lives more difficult, serve only their own interests, and benefit the rich unfairly while the rest struggle. Additionally, about 40% of respondents indicated that to bring about change, they would approve of actions such as attacking people online, purposefully spreading misinformation, threatening or committing violence, or damaging property, both public and private. This feeling was most prevalent among those aged 18-34, of which 53% approved of such “hostile activism.” Further, the survey shows that just 36% of all respondents believe that things will improve for the next generation. In developed countries, just 20% see it so.
Business Has Become a Focus of Discontent
Among those with a high sense of grievance, business is seen as 81 points less ethical and 37 points less competent compared to those with a low sense of grievance, Edelman found. From affordability to climate change, discrimination to misinformation, blame is being laid at corporate feet. Yet, there is a bright spot and an opportunity to improve goodwill. Businesses remain the most trusted institution, compared to the government, media, and NGOs, with 62% of overall respondents expressing trust.
Grievances are not exclusively being felt by low earners, though they raise it most acutely. About 48% of low-income respondents trust business, government, media, and NGOs in aggregate, compared to 61%, on average, among high income respondents. Business sees the greatest divergence of any institution, with a 16-point gap. Business has emerged as the default solution on societal issues, given that many people believe businesses are more competent (+48 points) and more ethical (+29 points) than their government.
“Business faces new guardrails; with involvement in addressing societal problems justified if it contributed to the problem, could make a major impact on the challenge, and if its actions would improve business performance,” Edelman says in a release accompanying the study.
“Business is facing backlash from those opposing its role as a catalyst for societal change,” Richard Edelman, CEO of the firm, says. “Moving back from a grievance-based society will require a cross-institution effort to address issues like information integrity, affordability, sustainability, and the future of AI."
The Opportunity for Talent Mobility
For talent mobility, the success of the employee is critical to the success of the industry. Whether it’s corporate employers managing the employee experience or service partners ensuring the logistics of a move are handled with care, building trust in every step of the process is essential.
Talent mobility leaders have an opportunity to take lessons from this survey. Businesses are a trusted institution, with room for improvement. What can leaders do to maintain and grow that trust? What policies, benefits, and services can be offered or revamped with the employee—and their family—in mind? While this year’s Trust Barometer indicates a more challenging turn than years past, businesses and their leaders can be the foundation upon which trust can be built anew.