Workers embrace AI and prioritise skills growth amid rising workloads and an accelerating pace of change: PwC 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey

Jakarta, 3 October 2024 – Among over 56,600 workers across 50 countries and territories, including Indonesia, many are prioritising long-term skills growth to accelerate their careers amid rising workloads and increased workplace uncertainty, according to PwC’s 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey, conducted in March 2024.

Over the past 12 months, 46% of Indonesian workers have reported increased workloads and a faster pace of workplace change, a trend echoed by their Asia Pacific and global counterparts. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of global workers have faced more changes at work compared to the previous year, with higher percentages in the Asia Pacific (68%) and Indonesia (76%). Despite these challenges, 91% of Indonesian workers have responded positively to the changes, as compared to their Asia Pacific counterparts, indicating their readiness to adapt to new ways of working. This also applies to learning opportunities, with 92% of Indonesian workers being more enthusiastic than their Asia Pacific counterparts (74%). Additionally, only 19% of Indonesian respondents plan to change employers within the next 12 months, compared to 31% of Asia Pacific and global (28%) respondents.

Lia Marina, PwC Consulting Indonesia Workforce Transformation Director, added, “According to
the survey, 57% of Indonesian workers would stay with their current employers if offered opportunities
to learn new skills, compared to 47% globally. As upskilling significantly impacts employee decisions
to join or stay, organisations must provide clear guidance on essential future skills. This includes
identifying key competencies, offering mentoring, and creating clear pathways of development. Leveraging skills inventories to uncover hidden talent helps align employee skills with business
needs.”

In the coming year, Indonesia is expected to lead in awareness of evolving skill requirements, with
68% of Indonesian workers recognising this need, compared to 66% in the Asia Pacific region and
58% globally.

Workers embrace AI to ease workplace pressures responsibly and unlock personal growth

As workplace pressures intensify, employees are increasingly turning to technologies like GenAI.
Over 60% of Asia Pacific and global workers, and 76% of Indonesian workers, believe GenAI will
enhance efficiency in the next 12 months. However, while 51% of global workers anticipate a
workload increase, this rises to 57% in Asia Pacific and 58% in Indonesia.
While the workforce is generally optimistic about GenAI, 73% of Indonesian CEOs believe
cybersecurity risks will increase with its rise. Organisations should balance high GenAI adoption rates
with robust infrastructure to ensure ethical use.

Martijn Peeters, PwC Consulting Indonesia President Director, added, “Indonesian employees
are more optimistic about GenAI's potential than their global counterparts. Over 60% of Indonesian
and Asia Pacific users expect GenAI to lead to higher salaries, compared to 49% of users globally.
Additionally, over 80% of Indonesian workers are confident that generative AI will enhance efficiency
at work, leaders should ride on this wave of optimism to drive innovation and significantly boost
productivity within your organisation.”

Factors impacting workers

The survey indicates that employees globally and in the Asia Pacific view technological change,
customer preference shifts, and changes in government regulations as the top job influencers. In
Indonesia, workers identify government regulations, climate change, and technological change as key
factors.

Indonesian respondents are notably more concerned about environmental changes affecting job
performance (50%) and workplace health and safety hazards (65%) as compared to the global
average (33% and 44%, respectively) and the Asia Pacific average (40% and 51%).

The evolving climate landscape presents opportunities for Indonesia, particularly through adopting
new technologies. Indonesian professionals see the importance of embracing these changes for
career development and climate action. Notably, 86% of Indonesian workers believe employers have
a crucial responsibility in reducing environmental impact, compared to 73% in the Asia Pacific region
and 69% globally. This highlights the essential role businesses play in driving positive change and
contributing to global climate action.