New EY survey identifies how HR can close talent gaps in AI adoption

Ernst & Young LLP (EY) highlights a growing disconnect between employee skills and AI readiness in its 2025 Work Reimagined Survey.

Covering 15,000 employees and 1,500 employers across 29 countries, the study finds only 28 per cent of organisations are on track to achieve the ‘talent advantage’.

While 88 per cent of employees use AI for basic tasks like document search, only 5 per cent engage with advanced AI to transform workflows. Concerns over skill erosion and increased workloads compound the challenge, with 37 per cent worried AI may diminish expertise and 64 per cent reporting heavier workloads.

Roselyn Feinsod, Principal, People Consulting at EY, notes that weak culture, misaligned rewards, and ineffective learning structures undermine AI adoption. HR and talent leaders must bridge the gap between human capabilities and AI tools, focusing on talent health, training, and workplace culture alongside technology deployment.

EY identifies five pillars to achieve the talent advantage: talent health, enterprise-wide AI adoption, culture redesign, aligning rewards to desired behaviours, and embedding continuous learning. High-performing organisations show strong talent health scores, with 89 per cent of employees recommending their employer versus 20 per cent in low-performing firms.

Maximising AI adoption requires an AI excellence mindset, equipping employees with the right tools and understanding of their value. Advanced training improves skills but increases attrition risk; employees with over 81 hours of AI-focused learning are 55 per cent more likely to leave. Personalised rewards, clear career pathways, and internal talent marketplaces help retain top talent.

Long-term workforce advantage comes from integrating human talent management with AI capabilities. Addressing employee concerns, promoting engagement, and fostering continuous learning can unlock up to 14 hours per week in productivity gains.

Read the full story to see how HR strategy can bridge human and AI performance gaps.