Two-Thirds of Leaders View HR as Key Business Driver, but AI and Skills Gaps Persist

Event summary

  • 65% of senior leaders now view HR as a key business enabler, driving transformation and value creation.
  • 51% of leaders cite administrative workload as the primary barrier preventing HR from contributing more strategically.
  • Nearly 70% of respondents report using generative AI, but only 38% consider it highly relevant for their organization today.
  • Only 11% of organizations have fully embedded a skills taxonomy across the enterprise.

The big picture

The survey highlights a strategic shift where HR is increasingly seen as a driver of business value, yet significant challenges remain in AI adoption and skills management. The findings underscore the need for CHROs to lead digital transformation and workforce renewal to meet the demands of the AI era. The gap between large organizations and SMEs in digital capabilities suggests a potential competitive advantage for those that can scale AI and skills-based approaches effectively.

What we're watching

AI Integration
The pace at which companies can scale AI adoption and embed it across the full employee lifecycle will determine its strategic impact.
Skills Transformation
Whether organizations can accelerate the adoption of skills-based talent management to bridge the persistent execution gap.
HR Digital Capabilities
How HR leaders can close the gap between digital ambition and execution, particularly in smaller enterprises.