PwC survey: AI use at work hits 64%, but training access falls
Representative image: This_is_Engineering / Pixabay
PwC's 2026 survey of 49,364 workers, released October 15, finds 64% use AI at work but only 51% have the training they need, down from 59%.
What Happened
Most workers are falling behind on artificial intelligence (AI) skills while a smaller group pulls ahead, according to PwC's Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2026, released on 15 October 2026. The professional services firm surveyed 49,364 workers across 48 countries and regions in May and June. It found that 64% had used AI at work in the past 12 months, up 10 percentage points on last year, but that only 51% said they had access to the learning and development they need, down from 59%.
Key Facts
- Survey size: 49,364 workers in 48 countries and regions, surveyed in May and June 2026.
- AI use at work in the past year: 64%, up 10 points from the previous survey.
- Daily use of generative AI, the kind of AI that writes text or creates images: 22%, up from 14%.
- Workers saying they have the learning resources they need: 51%, down from 59%.
- PwC groups workers into four cohorts; the largest, which it calls the "Engine Room", makes up 56% of the workforce.
- Only two in five Engine Room workers say they have the training resources they need.
- Trust in top management: 33% among Engine Room workers, against 75% among the group PwC calls "front-runners".
Why It Matters
For anyone building a career in technology, or in any job that technology is changing, the message is that using AI is no longer enough on its own. More people are using AI tools at work every year, but fewer say their employers are helping them learn properly. That leaves a gap between a minority who are gaining skills fast and a majority who are using the tools without the training to get the most from them.
PwC's own framing is a warning to companies: they risk losing their most AI-skilled employees, who have more options, while leaving the bulk of their workforce behind. The trust figures point the same way. Workers in the largest group trust their leaders far less than those who are ahead, which can make change harder to manage.
For Indian readers, the findings matter because India's technology services and global capability centres employ a large workforce whose work is being reshaped by AI. A worker who relies only on the employer for training may fall behind, according to the pattern in this survey. Building skills independently, through recognised courses, projects and practice, and showing them in real work, is one practical response.
The survey also shows how quickly habits are changing. Daily generative AI use rose by about half in a year, from 14% to 22%. That suggests AI tools are moving from occasional experiments to part of everyday work, which raises the value of knowing how to check AI output, use it safely and combine it with one's own expertise.
What you should do next: look at which tasks in your current or target job already use AI, learn one or two tools properly rather than many superficially, and ask your employer what training is available. If it is not, look for structured courses from recognised institutions.
| Measure | Previous survey | 2026 survey |
|---|---|---|
| Used AI at work in past 12 months | About 54% | 64% |
| Use generative AI daily | 14% | 22% |
| Have the learning resources they need | 59% | 51% |
Impact
Short-term: Companies are likely to face pressure to widen AI training beyond a small group of early adopters, especially where skilled staff can move to rivals.
Long-term: If the training gap persists, the difference in pay and prospects between AI-skilled workers and the rest could widen, affecting career paths in technology and beyond.
Who is affected: Employees across industries, particularly those in the "Engine Room" group; employers and HR teams planning training budgets; and students and job-seekers preparing for workplaces where AI is routine.
Key Takeaway
PwC's 2026 survey of 49,364 workers finds AI use rising to 64% but access to training falling to 51%, leaving most workers behind a small, fast-moving group.
Questions and Answers
What did the PwC Hopes and Fears Survey 2026 find about AI at work?
It found that 64% of 49,364 workers surveyed had used AI at work in the past 12 months, up 10 points, and 22% used generative AI daily, up from 14%. But only 51% said they had the learning resources they needed, down from 59%.
What is the "Engine Room" in PwC's survey?
It is PwC's name for the largest of four groups of workers in the survey, making up 56% of the workforce. Only two in five of them say they have the training resources they need, and 33% trust top management.
When and how was the PwC survey conducted?
PwC surveyed 49,364 workers across 48 countries and regions in May and June 2026 and released the findings on 15 October 2026.
How can workers avoid falling behind on AI skills?
The survey suggests employer training is not reaching most workers, so learning a few AI tools well, practising them in real tasks and taking structured courses from recognised providers can help, alongside asking employers for training.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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