PwC: AI Skills Gap Widens as Worker Access to Training Falls
AI adoption among workers rose 10 points, but access to learning resources dropped 8 points, raising retention risks for employers.
Companies are increasingly at risk of losing their most AI-proficient employees while the broader workforce falls further behind, according to new research from PwC. The consulting firm's findings reveal a widening divide between workers who have embraced artificial intelligence tools and those who have not had adequate opportunity or resources to do so.
Overall AI use across the workforce climbed 10 percentage points, yet access to learning and development resources declined by 8 points during the same period — a combination that analysts say creates compounding risk for organizations trying to manage workforce transitions responsibly.
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Employees who use AI on a daily basis report markedly higher levels of trust in management, greater confidence in their own job security, and a more optimistic outlook toward technological change. That stands in sharp contrast to the majority of workers who remain on the margins of AI adoption and may be developing anxiety or skepticism about their long-term prospects.
The data suggests employers face a dual challenge: retaining high-value, AI-fluent talent that is likely in strong demand across industries, while simultaneously upskilling a larger cohort of workers who risk being left behind if training investments are not prioritized. PwC's findings underscore that cutting learning and development budgets at a moment of rapid technological change could prove counterproductive for corporate competitiveness and employee morale alike.
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