CHROs Plan Major Expansion of Digital Labor and AI in the Workforce: Salesforce Report
Salesforce’s global survey of 200 HR executives reveals that Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) are preparing for a significant shift toward AI-driven digital labor over the next two years, aiming to enhance productivity and reshape workforce dynamics.
Key Findings:
- AI as a Core Workforce Component: 77% of CHROs believe AI agents will become integral to organizational structures, driving strategic business transformation rather than incremental change.
- Rapid Adoption Expected: Deployment of AI agents is projected to surge by 327% in two years, potentially boosting productivity by 30% and reducing labor costs by 19%.
- Workforce Redeployment: This shift will require 24% of the global workforce to be reassigned to new roles, with 61% of employees collaborating with AI and 23% redeployed by 2027.
Human-AI Collaboration by 2030
- 80% of CHROs predict widespread collaboration between humans and AI agents in most companies.
- 89% plan to integrate AI agents into their workforce, with adoption expected to rise from 15% to 64% by 2027—though 36% still have no adoption plans.
- Companies failing to adapt to an AI-first economy face a 40% risk of falling behind.
Reskilling and Evolving Workforce Needs
- Over 80% of HR leaders prioritize reskilling employees for AI-driven roles, focusing on data/AI literacy and soft skills like collaboration.
- 88% see internal redeployment as more cost-effective than external hiring.
- 75% believe AI will increase demand for soft skills, while technical roles will require stronger AI and data proficiency.
Future Workforce Structure
- AI agents will act as trusted assistants, enhancing human performance through speed and scalability.
- Sales, IT, and R&D teams are expected to grow due to AI adoption, while customer service, operations, and finance teams may shrink as AI handles routine tasks.
- 89% of CHROs anticipate AI will create more impactful human roles by automating repetitive work.
Challenges and Next Steps
- Only 15% of companies have fully implemented AI agents, leaving 85% in early stages.
- HR leaders must partner with IT and R&D to accelerate adoption.
- Employee awareness remains low, requiring managers to guide teams through the transition.
Salesforce emphasizes a “cognitive upgrade” approach—reskilling employees to work alongside AI rather than merely transferring tasks to automation. As AI reshapes work, CHROs are positioned to lead this transformation, balancing efficiency with human-centric growth.
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