'Great Resignation' Enters Third Year As Workers Embrace AI, Upskilling

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 survey of the global workforce found.

Around 28% of more than 56,000 workers surveyed by PwC said they were "very or extremely likely" to move from their current companies, compared to 19% in 2022, and 26% 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 45% of the workers surveyed said they have experienced rising workloads and an accelerating pace of workplace change in the last 12 months, with 62% saying they have seen more change at work in the past year than in the previous 12 months.

Among employees who use GenAI daily, 82% 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.

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