HRM and skills development – August 2026
Work changes through redesign
According to a survey (0.2 MB) by JLL, 60% of the senior leaders expect their workforce to grow, while the same proportion expect AI to reinvent rather than replace roles. Yet only 15% of the organisations have reached an advanced stage of AI adoption. Gaps in AI, analytics and emerging technology skills remain the most frequently reported capability barrier. The findings indicate that organisations increasingly view AI as a driver of job redesign, but that workforce capabilities are not yet keeping pace with technological ambitions.
A report (in Dutch, 1.1 MB) published by TNO (in Dutch) indicates that more than 60% of Dutch employees expect their work to remain broadly unchanged over the next five years. Around 40% already report completing more work in the same amount of time because of technology. However, employers and employees also anticipate greater mental strain, highlighting the importance of considering workload, employee wellbeing and sustainable work design alongside potential productivity gains.
Skills investment becomes a priority
A survey by Berenschot (in Dutch) finds that Dutch HR professionals now give greater priority to investing in existing employees than to recruiting new staff. Learning and development and strategic workforce planning are among their leading priorities. Organisations nevertheless continue to encounter constraints involving available time, knowledge, internal support and practical implementation. You can download the report (in Dutch) after filling in your details.
Researchers at Symbiosis International University have found that AI-related technostress can reduce employee wellbeing, job satisfaction and engagement. Training, coaching, upskilling and supportive organisational practices can strengthen digital competence and reduce technology-related anxiety. The findings indicate that effective AI adoption depends not only on technical implementation but also on workforce support that helps employees adjust to AI-enabled workplaces while maintaining confidence and engagement. The study is published in Discover Artificial Intelligence.
AI raises the value of skills
The 2026 AI Jobs Barometer (11.4 MB) by PwC identifies a two-track labour market in which AI strengthens expert roles requiring judgement, creativity and leadership, while making some other roles more accessible to less experienced workers. Jobs requiring AI skills grew by 69%, compared with 9% across the wider jobs market, and carried an average wage premium of 62%. The findings point to growing labour-market demand for employees who can combine AI capabilities with human expertise.
According to an ETS report, 85% of US workers regard upskilling or reskilling as necessary, yet only 71% are proactively developing new skills. Cost, limited learning time and insufficient employer support are significant barriers, while more than half feel unprepared for the next generation of jobs. This suggests a continuing gap between awareness of changing skill requirements and access to development opportunities. You can download the report after filling in your details.
AI labour market effects vary across Europe
The AI Jobs Transition Framework for the EU (1.2 MB) by OpenAI estimates that 12% of EU employment is in occupations that could grow through AI, while 14% has relatively high short-term automation potential. A further 27% is likely to be reorganised through changing workflows and skill requirements. The findings also identify substantial differences between countries, reflecting variations in national occupational structures and indicating that AI-related labour-market transitions are unlikely to follow a uniform pattern across Europe.
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