AI is no longer a tool. It’s a transformative force that is helping to reshape the future of work.
It is predicted that employees will take on new and different job roles, working side-by-side with AI-powered systems and processes. Coming together, teams are expected to work in new ways, and accelerate new and profound innovations. Such change places new pressures on business leaders. To responsibly seize the technological power of AI, leaders should be ready to lead their teams through the AI revolution. Specifically, they should ready employees and teams for the changes ahead, while helping them stay motivated throughout the journey to the future of work.
The future of work report (PDF 1.6MB) explores the perceptions of employees on the future of work amid post-pandemic recovery, fast AI advancements, unstable geopolitical instability, and a looming global recession. It provides leaders the insights they need to begin to understand where their people are in their transformation journey today.
Based on more than 4,000 employees from a cross-section of generations in the workplace, this KPMG-led research report delves into the minds of employees to understand how they feel about advanced technologies today and their confidence in their organisations’ plans for a future with AI. Our analysis looks at primary and secondary data, as well as specialist opinions from leading professionals in Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK, and the US across various industries such as consumer/retail, government, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, technology.
Key research findings: Future of work
Key findings from the KPMG-led research and analysis on the future of work include:
Lack of awareness
The research shows workers lack awareness of, and confidence in, their firms’ technology strategies. Despite the race to embrace AI, little more than half of respondents (54 percent) said their employer has adopted new technologies over the past three years.
Hopes and expectations
Sixty-six percent of employees expect technology to enhance their productivity over the next three years. More than a third say new technology will automate as much as 30 percent of their job; a quarter think it could automate up to half of their job.
Mental health impacts
Almost two in five workers feel that productivity improvements are outweighed by the effect on their wellbeing and mental health. A fifth believe technology has impaired their productivity.
Workforce impacts
Thirty-six percent say their organization is unclear on how its workforce must change to meet future business and customer needs based on the company’s current data and technology stack.
Upskilling
Sixty-two percent say a company’s investment in upskilling influences their decision to join, leave or stay with an organization whereas only 56% say their organization is proactively investing in reskilling and upskilling.
How can leaders harness the combined potential of AI and their workforce?
Embrace the power of AI
Leaders should experiment with generative AI to make the most of it within their organizations. They should also equip their workforce with the right tools that can enhance their work today, while offering the development opportunities to prepare for the future.
Shape the workforce of the future
In an AI-first world, organizations should expect to adopt an AI-first mindset. They should enhance the workforce mix, balancing the ‘buying’ new skills with upskilling existing employees.
Learn in the flow of work
With the pace of technological change, businesses, and employees should adjust to living in a constant state of learning. Upskilling will likely be continual to stay in line with technological advances.
Lead from the middle
People leaders should turbocharge the organization as it pursues the future of work. A conduit between senior leadership and employees, middle managers can help translate technology strategies into action and outcomes on their teams, if they are equipped and skilled to do so.
Download our global report
With no fixed end-state to aim for, business leaders should carefully plan AI transformation for their organisations by intentionally considering how they can effectively lead their people along the journey to the future of work.
Ready to help unleash the potential of your people as you bring AI to your organisation? This blueprint can help you steer your organisation toward the future of work.
Read more in our global Future of work report.
There has never been a better time to be in the people and HR world because some of the biggest challenges facing organisations right now are human challenges. The future of work is expected to demand access to new skills in real-time to enhance adaptability and competitiveness. Delivering that access requires organisations to embrace the power of AI, optimally reshape the workforce and upskill employees through learning in the flow of work.
Ruth Svensson
Global Head of People and HR Centre of Excellence
KPMG International
