HRM and skills development – September 2025
Young workers and the skills gap
Randstad reports that young employees now spend on average just 1.1 years in a job. At first glance it looks like restlessness, but Randstad stresses it is “growth-hunting”: a search for faster learning and more development opportunities. You can download the report after filling in your details. This trend links closely to a report (2.25 MB) by the Cengage Group, which warns of a growing mismatch between what schools teach and what employers need. Many graduates enter the labour market without the right technical or digital skills that businesses demand, leaving Gen Z frustrated and pushing them to move on quickly. Together the reports suggest that companies able to invest in training, mentorship and career mobility will stand a much better chance of keeping young talent on board.
Artificial Intelligence: adopted but not trusted
The AI Adoption Gap survey by Udacity finds that while 90% of employees already use AI at work, only a minority truly trust its output. This paradox — widespread adoption coupled with lingering doubt — reflects a broader hesitation in many workplaces. You can download the survey after filling in your details.
A study (in Dutch, 4.3 MB) by Newcom (in Dutch) echoes this picture: employees describe AI as helpful, yet also as opaque and sometimes unsettling. The message is clear: the technology is present in daily workflows, but confidence in its results is not keeping pace.
Tasks reshaped, strategies lagging
Research by Microsoft highlights a subtle but crucial distinction. The study (1.99 MB) finds that AI is often applicable to tasks within jobs, but that does not necessarily mean entire jobs are displaced. “AI is more likely to reshape tasks than to replace entire jobs,” Microsoft notes. Yet this nuance is frequently lost. Two recent studies by BCG underline this point. In How Smart Companies Overcome Today’s Talent Paradoxes, BCG describes how firms face both shortages and surpluses, with employees simultaneously fearing AI and demanding more from their employers. The follow-up article, AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Workforce Strategy, delivers a blunt warning: “Technology is outpacing workforce planning.”
Uneven AI adoption worldwide
The Anthropic Economic Index sets out two striking conclusions in their online report about uneven AI adoption worldwide. First, adoption is accelerating: in the United States, 40% of employees now report using AI at work, double the share in 2023. This rapid growth underlines how deeply the technology is embedding itself into daily business tasks. Second, adoption is highly uneven. Wealthier countries and knowledge-intensive regions lead the way, while lower-income economies remain on the sidelines. Even within organisations the divide is evident: enterprise use via APIs points towards large-scale automation, whereas individual employees typically rely on AI as a collaborative partner. The Index reveals a dual reality — AI is becoming mainstream in some contexts, yet access, purpose and trust differ sharply across geographies and workplaces.
AI skills lead global learning surge
The 2026 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report by Udemy, shows an explosive demand for AI skills—especially generative AI and copilots. Adaptive skills like critical thinking and communication are also rising fast. Learning “in the flow of work” is becoming a top method for employees to upskill. You can download the report after filling in your details.
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