What happened
PwC's 2026 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, released 29 September 2026, interviewed nearly 50,000 workers (49,364) across 48 countries and regions and 29 sectors in May–June 2026. Headline finding: 'Nearly two in three workers (64%) report using AI at work in the past 12 months—a ten-point increase year-on-year.' The survey documents a stark divergence between an optimistic minority of workers reaping AI's rewards and a majority at risk of being left behind, as access to learning and development falls even as AI use and the pace of workplace change accelerate. PwC's companion 2026 AI Jobs Barometer finds workers with AI skills now command a 62% wage premium, up from 57% in 2025, while companies risk losing their most AI-savvy employees.
Why it matters
Gives C-suites and HR leaders a large-sample, quantified picture of the AI skills divide and workforce retention risk — directly relevant to talent strategy and AI upskilling decisions.
Action needed
Benchmark your company's AI-skills strategy and learning investment against the 64% usage and 62% wage-premium figures to address retention risk.