As 2026 begins, what will keep CEOs up at night? All signs point to a cloud of uncertainty.

According to a new survey, CEOs in the United States say uncertainty is their biggest economic worry for 2026. Their concern exceeds that of CEOs worldwide: 43% of US CEOs rank uncertainty as a top threat versus 29% of CEOs globally.

The Conference Board survey also found CEOs worldwide are struggling to pin down AI's business value: 33% of CEOs globally say their top AI priority is measuring the ROI. The share of US CEOs who say the same is even higher, at 46%.

As AI transforms how work gets done, CEOs are prioritizing skill and leadership development, ranking them among their top three workforce priorities for 2026. Amid this seismic change, they are also placing greater emphasis on employee mental health, elevating it above traditional workplace priorities like working conditions and gender equality.

"Heading into 2026, CEOs are navigating converging pressures that are weighing on profits and growth. At the same time, these forces are spurring innovation, with most CEOs worldwide focused on revamping their business models," said Dana M. Peterson, Chief Economist, The Conference Board.

The C-Suite Outlook 2026 survey features over 1,700 executives, including over 750 CEOs. The survey participants—CEOs, C-Suite leaders, and board directors—were primarily from North America, Europe, and Asia.