'Engine room' workers being left behind, says PwC
PwC study: 70% of staff lack AI skills while companies chase quick wins with frontrunners.
Why it matters
Workforce capability gaps are widening as organizations concentrate AI investment in elite teams, leaving the majority of employees—the 'engine room'—without foundational AI literacy. This creates operational risk and limits enterprise adoption velocity.
The key facts
8 to knowPwC report identifies majority of workforce ('engine room' workers) being left behind in AI upskilling
Companies prioritizing front-runners and high-performers over broad-based skill development
Skill gap identified as a barrier to enterprise AI adoption and deployment at scale
Published Sep 29, 2026
PwC study identifies disparity between frontrunner and majority staff AI skill investment
Focus on 'engine room' workers — operational, non-specialist roles — being neglected
Companies concentrating upskilling on visible roles while majority lack necessary AI competencies
Published: September 29, 2026
Go to the source
ITProitpro.com
Publisher excerpt: Companies are tending to focus on front-runners and are failing to give the majority of their staff the skills that they need