'Great Resignation' enters third year as workers embrace AI, upskilling: PwC
Business
Employees are placing an ‘increased premium’ on organisations that invest in their skills growth
28pc respondents says they are 'very or extremely likely' to move from their current companies
45pc of them note experiencing rising workloads and an accelerating pace of workplace change in last 12 months
MUMBAI (Reuters) – The proportion of workers who expect to switch employers in the next 12 months is higher than that from the "Great Resignation" period of 2022, a PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) survey of the global workforce found.
Around 28 per cent of more than 56,000 workers surveyed by PwC said they were "very or extremely likely" to move from their current companies, compared to 19pc in 2022, and 26pc in 2023.
PwC's 2024 "Hopes and Fears" survey also showed workers are embracing emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and prioritising upskilling amid rising workloads and heightened workplace uncertainty.
Pete Brown, global workforce leader at PwC UK, said employees are placing an "increased premium" on organisations that invest in their skills growth, and so, businesses must prioritise upskilling and employee experience.
About 45pc of the workers surveyed said they have experienced rising workloads and an accelerating pace of workplace change in the last 12 months, with 62pc saying they have seen more change at work in the past year than the previous 12 months.
Among employees who use GenAI daily, 82pc said they expect it to increase their efficiency in the next 12 months.
Reflecting confidence that GenAI opportunities would support their career growth, nearly half of those surveyed by PwC expected GenAI to generate higher salaries, with almost two-thirds hoping these emerging tools will improve the quality of their work.
Carol Stubbings, global markets and tax and legal services leader at PwC UK, said employers must invest in staff and tech platforms to mitigate pressures and retain talent.
"The findings suggest that job satisfaction is no longer enough," she said.
