EMEA Talent Insights

_EMEA

Talent Insights

Many employees in EMEA (77%) are open to embracing the opportunities that come with change, while a significant portion (50%) believe that there is too much change happening at once, and many (42%) don’t understand why anything needs to change at all. The fact that change seems to be accelerating may add to the uncertainty felt by many.

PwC Hopes & Fears Survey: EMEA Workforce

Current state of employee perceptions and attitudes

EMEA workers have mixed feelings about the pace and scale of change in the last 12 months.
Over 40% of EMEA workers have had to learn new technology / tools, with their workload also increasing in the last year.

2024’s result suggests that, on average, 59% of EMEA based employees are satisfied at work, in comparison to 56% in 2023.
Much of the workforce are exploring other opportunities, with over a quarter of respondents (26%) suggesting they are likely to move employers in the next 12 months.

2024’s result suggests that, on average, 59% of EMEA based employees are satisfied at work, in comparison to 56% in 2023.
Much of the workforce are exploring other opportunities, with over a quarter of respondents (26%) suggesting they are likely to move employers in the next 12 months.

Thinking about changes you have experienced in your role in the last 12 months, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

In the next 12 months, to what extent do you think generative AI will +/- the following aspects of your job?

Generative AI Impact

The past year has shifted employee dynamics, requiring leaders to adapt talent strategies amidst heightened competition for skilled workers. Emphasizing skills development emerges as a crucial tactic, involving upskilling across all levels, fostering a culture of continuous learning and mentorship, and encouraging skills growth beyond current roles. However, the integration of new technologies like GenAI, while offering upskilling potential, risks overwhelming employees with increased workloads. To mitigate this, leaders should prioritize rationalizing and aligning technology, simplifying setups with centralized systems to reduce the need for extensive multi-platform training, and thereby enhancing overall efficiency.

The time has come for us to formulate a vision of where we want AI to take us as a society and as humanity, and then we need to act and accelerate Europe in getting there."

Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission President

EMEA Workforce Sentiment

In EMEA, employee satisfaction has risen slightly to 59% in 2024 from 56% in 2023; however, this doesn't guarantee retention, as 26% of employees are likely to change jobs within the next year, prioritizing career growth over stability. Skill development is crucial for employee retention, especially with the rapid integration of AI, including GenAI, which is causing uncertainty about required skill evolution. While AI penetration is accelerating, particularly in professional services, information & communication, and financial services, leading to a 25% faster growth in skills change for exposed roles (PwC 2024 AI Jobs Barometer report), many employees lack clarity and support for their upskilling needs.

Other Key Findings:

The outlook for job security is optimistic. 77% of respondents are ready to adapt to new ways of working. 54% of respondents feel that recent changes have made them optimistic about the future at their current company.
Non-financial rewards are as crucial as pay. Employees rank financial reward (83%), fulfilment (76%), and flexibility (63%) as their top priorities for choosing or staying with an employer.
GenAI adoption in the workplace is limited - 55% have used it in the past year, but only 9% of respondents use it daily.

Optimism in GenAI is growing, with over 70% of users believing it creates new opportunities, 67% believe it will boost creativity, followed by 65% believing it will improve work quality.
Employees have higher expectations for their employers' climate actions. 66% of employees surveyed believe that their employers should reduce their environmental impact.