AI at Work
The Role of AI in the Global Workforce
Read on to see how AI is creating more demand for specialists and shifting talent hubs to evolve skills, hiring practices, and career paths.
Explore the research
Artificial intelligence has moved from pilot projects to a core driver of business, reshaping how companies hire and manage their people.
We’re Deel, a global HR and payroll company. Our platform spans 150+ countries, processing millions of contracts and payroll records each year for our 37,000+ business partners. We’ve also built practical solutions through our AI Workforce agents to do the repetitive HR work like scouting new markets and spotting payroll errors. This frees teams to focus on high value work like managing their workforce.
This IDC InfoBrief “AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce,” commissioned by Deel, polls 5,500 decision-makers across 22 markets. This reach gives us a unique view of how AI is reshaping the global workforce. Here’s what we found:
Pilots Are Out, Production Is In
Nearly 70% of organizations moved beyond AI experiments, embedding it into everyday workflows. But integration, talent shortages, and governance remain major hurdles.
AI Specialists Are in Short Supply and High Demand
Nearly half of organizations hired AI specialists in the past year with some willing to pay at least 50% more to get them. As AI adoption accelerates, demand is outpacing supply.
As Entry-Level Roles Disappear, New Skills Rise
Two out of three companies say they’re slowing entry-level hiring as automation expands while investing in AI skills and soft skills like critical thinking and communication.
Trust Can’t Be an Afterthought
Only 16% of companies are familiar with local AI regulations, and just 22% have formal internal policies, leaving governance a critical challenge worldwide.
AI’s full impact is still unfolding, but it’s clear companies everywhere are rethinking how they source, manage, and develop their people. We’ll continue to track these changes—and share what we learn and innovate—for you.
AI adoption
From pilots to production: AI has gone mainstream
AI has shifted from side projects to a business imperative. Nearly 70% of organizations say they’ve moved beyond pilot projects, using AI to automate work, improve decision-making, and run core operations.
But moving from concept to production isn’t simple. While companies often test dozens of pilots, only a handful ever scale into production. Integration challenges, talent shortages, and regulatory concerns remain the biggest barriers worldwide. AI is no longer optional, but capturing its value depends on overcoming the real-world challenges of scaling it.
~70
%
Nearly 70% of organizations are embedding AI into core workflows across global industries.
48
%
Nearly half of companies cite integration with existing systems as their top challenge to scaling AI adoption.
Challenges to AI initiatives and hiring
Source: IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Deel, AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce, Doc#AP242540IB, October 2025
AI isn’t just changing how we work—it’s redefining what work means. Across every industry, we’re witnessing a rethinking of roles, workflows and organizational design. At Deel, our global vantage point across tens of thousands of businesses gives us a unique perspective on this shift. This research reflects that view, helping companies understand the real impact of AI on the workforce and how to embrace it responsibly for long-term advantage.
—Shuo Wang,
Co-Founder & CRO at Deel
Global Demand
The race to hire and hold on to AI specialists
AI adoption has fueled a worldwide surge in demand for skilled professionals. Nearly half of organizations hired AI specialists in the past year, and 16% are willing to pay at least 50% more to secure them. Demand is strongest in North America and Western Europe, with East Asia rapidly emerging as a new hub for AI expertise.
But competition isn’t just about pay. Top AI talent also values cutting-edge tools, clear career paths, and meaningful work. As hiring expands across industries and borders, companies face a new challenge—attracting and retaining the specialists who will define the next era of work.
43
%
43% of organizations hired at least one AI specialist in the past year.
16
%
16% are willing to pay 50% or more above market rates to secure top AI specialists.
Barriers to attracting AI talent
Source: IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Deel, AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce, Doc#AP242540IB, October 2025
Impact on Careers
Automation is reshaping how careers begin and grow
AI is transforming career paths across industries. Routine and entry-level roles are fading as automation takes over repetitive tasks, forcing companies to rethink how they hire and develop talent. Now, demand is growing for adaptable employees who can combine technical fluency with strategic thinking and creativity.
To keep pace, organizations are investing heavily in reskilling and upskilling. Two out of three are slowing entry-level hiring, while 67% are training their existing workforce to meet new AI-related skill demands. University degrees now carry less weight—only 5% of companies prioritize them when hiring for AI roles. AI is redefining what it means to grow a career—rewarding curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to learn faster than technology evolves.
91
%
91% of organizations say AI has changed or displaced job roles.
67
%
67% are investing in reskilling and upskilling programs for employees.
Top requirements from entry-level hires
Source: IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Deel, AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce, Doc#AP242540IB, October 2025
Industries seeing job role redesign
#1
Financial services
#2
Manufacturing
#3
Education
#4
Transportation
#5
Technology
Markets reporting job role redesigns
#1
Hong Kong
#2
India
#3
South Korea
#4
Israel
#5
United States
Governance and Trusts
AI adoption is outpacing regulation
AI adoption is racing ahead, but governance hasn’t kept up. Only a small share of companies are familiar with local AI rules, and most lack formal policies to guide employees’ use of AI tools. That gap creates confusion, compliance costs, and uneven adoption.
Without stronger guardrails, businesses face a trust problem. Employees are unsure how to use AI responsibly, while regulators scramble to define standards. Until governance catches up, organizations will struggle to balance innovation with accountability.
16
%
Only 16% of organizations are very familiar with their local AI-related regulations while nearly half admit they’re not familiar at all.
22
%
Only 22% of organizations have formal, enforced internal policies to guide employees’ use of AI tools.
Focus of AI policies
Source: IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Deel, AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce, Doc#AP242540IB, October 2025
AI is no longer emerging, it’s fully here. It’s reshaping how we work and how businesses operate. Entry-level jobs are changing, and the skills companies look for are too. Both workers and businesses need to adapt quickly. This isn’t about staying competitive, it’s about staying viable.
—Nick Catino,
Head of Policy
Least familiar with AI regulations
#1
China
#2
India
#3
Germany
Top markets with most organizations enforcing internal policies
#1
Japan
#2
The United Kingdom
#3
Brazil
Conclusion
AI is no longer a future trend. It’s already reshaping how companies hire, manage, and grow their people. From adoption and skills to governance and long-term value, the workforce is being transformed at every level.
This IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Deel brings you the data and insights you need to understand these shifts and prepare for what’s next.
Data & Methodology
A total of 5,500 business leaders participated in this IDC research commissioned by Deel. They were drawn from organizations of all sizes and included decision makers shaping business and digital strategies. The research spanned 22 global markets:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The research covered a wide range of industries:
Banking, education, financial services, government, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, media, professional services, resource industries, retail, technology firms, telecoms, transportation and logistics, and utilities.
Data was collected in September 2025.
Source: IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Deel, “AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce” - Doc #AP242540IB, November 2025"
Download the InfoBrief
IDC InfoBrief "AI at Work: The Role of AI in the Global Workforce,” explores the evolution of AI-related roles, AI superpower nations, and how AI technologies are transforming hiring and HR practices.