Only 51% of employees globally say they have access to the learning and development resources they need, down from 59% a year earlier, as artificial intelligence adoption continues to accelerate, according to PwC’s 2026 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey.
The survey covered 49,364 workers across 48 countries and regions and found that 64% had used AI at work during the previous 12 months. Daily generative AI use also increased from 14% to 22%, highlighting the speed at which AI is becoming part of everyday work.
AI adoption is increasing faster than training access
The decline in access to learning resources comes as employees face growing pressure to adapt to AI. PwC found that 59% of workers expect their use of AI tools at work to increase during the next 12 months.
This creates a potential skills gap because employees are being asked to use new technologies while fewer workers report having access to the training and development resources needed to build those capabilities.
AI skills are carrying a growing wage premium
PwC’s 2026 AI Jobs Barometer found that workers with AI skills received an average wage premium of 62%, up from 57% in 2025. The report also found that jobs requiring AI skills are changing faster than other jobs as companies integrate AI into business processes.
The wage premium does not mean every worker with AI knowledge will receive higher pay. Compensation varies according to occupation, experience, location, industry and the depth of the AI skills involved.
Different groups are experiencing AI differently
PwC’s workforce research identifies differences between employees based on their access to scarce skills, AI capabilities and workplace opportunities. The largest group, described by PwC as the engine room, represents 56% of workers.
Workers in this group perform much of the day-to-day work but generally report lower access to AI and learning opportunities. PwC found that only about two in five workers in this group said they had access to the learning and development resources they need.
Frequent AI users report greater confidence
The survey also found differences between frequent and infrequent AI users. Among daily AI users, 68% said they were very or extremely confident in their job security, compared with 57% of infrequent users.
Daily AI users were also more likely to report seeking promotion opportunities and having confidence in their ability to learn new skills. These findings describe an association between AI use and employee attitudes rather than proving that AI use directly causes those outcomes.
Employers face a training challenge
The findings point to the importance of expanding access to training as AI becomes more deeply integrated into work. Companies need employees who can understand new AI systems, evaluate their outputs and apply them appropriately within specific business processes.
For workers, the changing environment makes continuous learning increasingly important. Technical AI skills can be combined with communication, critical thinking, creativity, domain knowledge and other human capabilities as job requirements evolve.
The AI skills gap remains a workforce issue
PwC’s findings show a widening difference between the pace of AI adoption and employees’ reported access to learning resources. With 64% of surveyed workers already using AI at work and only 51% reporting access to the learning resources they need, training access remains a significant part of the AI workforce transition.
As organisations expand AI adoption through 2026, the ability to provide employees with relevant learning opportunities will remain important for helping workers adapt to changing roles and skills requirements.