Latest Findings of the 2024 PWC Survey about Skills Growth Amid Rising Workloads

A new survey by PwC, involving over 56,000 workers across 50 countries, reveals that employees are prioritizing long-term skills growth to advance their careers despite increasing workloads and workplace changes. Key findings from PwC’s 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey indicate that 45% of workers have experienced rising workloads in the past year, and 62% report an accelerating pace of workplace change. Additionally, 40% say their daily responsibilities have changed significantly, and 44% do not understand the purpose of these changes.

In response to these pressures, many workers are considering job changes and are focusing on skills growth. More than a quarter (28%) of workers are likely to switch employers in the next 12 months, a notable increase from the 19% during the ‘Great Resignation’ in 2022. Among those contemplating a job change, 67% cite skills development as a key factor influencing their decision.

Workers are turning to technologies like generative AI (GenAI) to manage workplace pressures and foster personal growth. Among daily GenAI users, 82% believe it will make their work more efficient over the next year. Additionally, 49% of all users expect GenAI to lead to higher salaries, with this expectation rising to 76% among daily users. Over 70% agree that GenAI tools will enhance creativity (73%) and improve work quality (72%).

The survey highlights a growing emphasis on skills development, especially among those likely to change employers. Workers planning to switch jobs are nearly twice as likely to prioritize upskilling compared to those who plan to stay (67% vs. 36%). However, less than half (46%) of all employees feel their employers provide adequate opportunities for learning new skills beneficial to their careers.

Employers must invest in training and access to new technologies, as many employees have not used GenAI at work due to a lack of opportunity (33%), access (24%), or knowledge (23%). Despite the rapid changes, there are positive signs, with 60% of workers expressing moderate job satisfaction (up from 56% in 2023) and more than half (57%) of those valuing fair pay agreeing that their job is fairly paid.

While cost-of-living pressures have eased slightly since 2023, with the proportion of workers having money left over each month rising to 45% (up from 38%), more than half (52%) still experience financial stress. Despite these challenges, workers remain optimistic about leveraging new technologies and skills growth to advance their careers and improve job satisfaction.

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