British firms reshape workforce for AI amid staff resistance to office return
Top bosses at British businesses have said lingering resistance to returning to the office remains a challenge, as City firms focus on redesigning roles to support human-AI collaboration.
According to KPMG’s 2026 global CEO outlook, investment in AI remains a top priority for global business leaders, as most British bosses (87 per cent) expect to see a return on that investment within three years.
However, those same bosses have also become particularly attuned to the ethical considerations around AI, with 81 per cent saying these are either very or mostly challenging for them.
The Big Four outlook highlighted that restructuring the workforce is a key way the human element is rapidly adapting to technology. As a result, most chief executives said they are actively redesigning roles to facilitate human-AI collaboration, with 77 per cent actively hiring new AI/tech talent.
But the top workforce challenges remain the ongoing skills gap, upskilling employees for AI, and lingering resistance to returning to the office; in the hybrid debate, 21 per cent of UK bosses said they see resistance from staff to coming back into the office.
Jon Holt, group chief executive KPMG UK and Switzerland, and UK senior partner, said: ““Human judgement is fundamental to AI success, not just humans using AI, but being in the lead with this technology.”
“A machine doesn’t have empathy, judgement or emotional intelligence. Today, those human skills are more important than ever as businesses understand, embed and capitalise on the opportunities AI brings.”
British bosses’ optimism soars
The UK ranks third place globally in chief executives’ confidence in their company’s three-year growth prospects, as 86 per cent of British bosses reported confidence, up from 74 per cent the previous year.
But macroeconomic factors mean bosses feel less optimistic about broader UK economic growth, with confidence falling from 79 per cent to 64 per cent.
Holt said: “Confidence alone is not enough. There needs to be a clear path for broader UK economic growth that converts this business confidence into investment and jobs.”
He noted that “the UK is an attractive place to do business”, but stated chief executives “are now waiting on the Budget to provide much needed policy certainty and for the government to set out how it will create the right conditions for country-wide good growth.”