A new global study by Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), a leading provider of enterprise technology services, uncovers a significant gap between AI investments and workforce readiness. The People Readiness Report, based on a survey of over 1,000 senior executives across 25 industries and eight geographies, finds that only a small number of organizations have aligned their workforce strategies with the growth of AI technology—giving those that have a competitive edge.
Findings on AI and Workforce Readiness
- 95% of businesses have invested in AI technology
- 71% of leaders say their workforce is not ready to fully leverage AI
- 51% report lacking skilled talent to manage AI
- 45% of CEOs perceive employee resistance or hostility towards AI
Workforce preparedness varies notably by industry, with Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance leading in readiness, while Healthcare lags behind.
Challenges Slowing AI Adoption
Despite heavy AI investment, most organizations are yet to benefit from transformative AI use cases that drive new products and services. Generative AI tools remain popular, but only 40% of leaders use AI insights to improve decision-making or business growth. Just 20% say AI primarily drives new customer-focused products.
AI Pacesetters: The Leaders Bridging the Gap
Kyndryl identifies a subset of AI Pacesetters who successfully leverage AI for growth by addressing workforce barriers. These leaders demonstrate:
- Strong Change Management: Three times more likely to have fully implemented AI change strategies.
- Employee Trust in AI: 29% less concerned about AI affecting employee engagement.
- Skill Inventory and Upskilling: 67% more likely to have tools for accurate skills inventory; 40% report no skill gaps.
Expert Insights on Preparing the Workforce
Maryjo Charbonnier, Chief HR Officer at Kyndryl, highlights the urgency and complexity of workforce preparation for AI:
“Preparing your workforce for AI is an urgent imperative that requires integrating skill data with business needs and equipping employees to use generative AI effectively.”
Leadership Perspectives and Next Steps
CEOs tend to view their organizations as being in early AI stages and often prefer hiring outside talent over upskilling internal teams, contrasting with CIO and CTO viewpoints. Kim Basile, Kyndryl’s CIO, emphasizes:
“Aligning technology strategies with broader business goals is critical for realizing AI’s full benefits.”
Kyndryl’s People Readiness Report underscores that investment alone isn’t enough. Enterprises must prioritize workforce readiness—through strategic change management, building trust, and closing skill gaps—to unlock AI’s transformative potential and gain a competitive advantage.
