PwC survey: AI use rises while learning access shrinks

Summary

PwC published its 2026 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey, covering 49,364 workers across 48 countries and regions, fielded in May and June 2026. Some 64% of workers used AI at work in the past 12 months, up 10 points year over year, and daily generative-AI use rose from 14% to 22%. Yet only 51% say they can access the learning and development resources they need, down from 59%. PwC segments the workforce into four groups; the largest, the 56% 'Engine Room,' reports just two in five members with adequate learning access, while 29% of high-capability 'Front-runners' say they are likely to change employers within a year.

Why it matters for our work

The survey shows at scale what happens when retraining lags adoption: a widening internal skills divide and rising flight risk among the most AI-capable people. Making learning access a first-class management concern is becoming central to scaling human-AI productivity.

Translated from the Korean original. Summaries may be translated and edited. Commentary reflects our perspective; forecasts remain the source’s views.