Cyber risk, AI, and economic uncertainty lead Aon survey

Cyber threats and economic instability remain the leading concerns for North American businesses, according to Aon’s 2025 Global Risk Management Survey. The findings highlight a rapidly evolving landscape where technological, geopolitical, climate, and workforce risks are increasingly intertwined.

The report, based on responses from nearly 3,000 risk managers and executives worldwide, found that organizations across the region are emphasizing cyber resilience, economic stability, and workforce innovation as strategic priorities.

“The North America findings underscore the urgent need for organizations to move from reactive measures to proactive, integrated risk strategies,” said Lori Goltermann, Aon’s CEO of global regions and North America. “Leaders must embed real-time analytics, scenario planning and systemic thinking into every function to transform resilience into an enterprise-wide capability.”

Cyberattacks and data breaches ranked as the top risk for North American organizations, with nearly one in five reporting losses from cyber incidents. Economic uncertainty followed, cited by 40 percent of respondents, reflecting ongoing inflationary pressures and shifting consumer behavior. Regulatory and legislative changes climbed to third place, underscoring growing compliance challenges.

Artificial intelligence emerged among the top five future risks in North America, a shift not mirrored globally. Respondents also identified talent attraction and innovation as key concerns tied to AI’s impact on the workforce.

Aon’s study found North American firms leading in risk management maturity, with 76 percent maintaining formal risk departments and increasing use of analytics and scenario modeling.