Chief Human Resources Officer

Talent Reinventors
Delivering value with and for people in the age of AI​

Authors: Karalee Close, Stephen Wroblewski, Jessica Van Singel, Sumreen Ahmad 
Research lead: Mamta Kapur
Published: March 2026

The last few years have revealed AI’s enormous potential and a simple truth: Real value shows up when people and technology advance together. As AI adoption accelerates, returns are uneven. Many organizations are investing heavily in AI, but have not updated their talent strategy accordingly.

Our latest research uncovers new opportunities to deliver innovation with talent. We surveyed 1,320 C-suite executives and 4,560 employees across 20 industries and 12 countries between August and September 2025 and found an elite group—just 18% of organizations—that are taking a different approach to talent and delivering real value. We call them Talent Reinventors.

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Talent Reinventors

The last few years have revealed AI’s enormous potential and a simple truth: Real value shows up when people and technology advance together. As AI adoption accelerates, returns are uneven...

more

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The Skills Mismatch Economy

Authors: Eric Bradlow, James Crowley, Ken Munie, Selen Karaca-Griffin
Published: January 2026

Wharton and Accenture collaborated to introduce the Wharton–Accenture Skills Index (WAsX), an empirical benchmark that examines the evolving mismatch between workforce skills and employer needs. The report highlights significant shifts that AI is driving, showing an oversupply of generalist skills and critical deficits in specialized, technical and execution-oriented capabilities. WAsX demonstrates how skill values are highly context-specific, challenging the traditional notion that certain skills universally command high value. The study urges employers to redesign job roles based on precise skill needs, while employees can leverage insights to build a targeted portfolio of high-value skills.

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The Skills Mismatch Economy

Wharton and Accenture collaborated to introduce the Wharton–Accenture Skills Index (WAsX), an empirical benchmark that examines the evolving mismatch...

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Learning, reinvented
Accelerating collaboration between humans and AI

Authors: Karalee Close, Kishore Durg, Prof. Majid Sakr, Stephen Wroblewski, Leila Yousef
Research lead: Leila Yousef
Published: August 2025

To unlock the potential of human-AI collaboration, organizations must reinvent learning. Companies fostering “co-learning”—where people teach AI and learn from it—are seeing 5x higher engagement, 4x faster skill development, and stronger innovation and profitability. Success hinges on four conditions: leading with curiosity, integrating learning into work, building trust, and designing AI to complement human workflows. Based on insights from 14,000 workers, 1,100 executives and 40 interviews across 20 industries, this report details how leaders can embed these practices to enable continuous, mutual learning between people and machines— and stay competitive in an AI-driven future.

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Learning, reinvented

To unlock the potential of human-AI collaboration, organizations must reinvent learning. Companies fostering “co-learning”—where people teach AI and learn from it—are seeing...

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Organizational Transformation in the Age of AI
How Organizations Maximise AI's Potential

Authors: Kathleen O’Reilly
Research lead: Kevin Millan
Published: March 2026

AI is delivering measurable gains, yet most organizations still capture value through isolated pilots rather than enterprise redesign. In this World Economic Forum paper, developed in collaboration with Accenture as part of the Industries in the Intelligent Age series, the question is how leaders turn experiments into durable advantage. Drawing on input from more than 450 executives, it argues that only about 15% of organizations are fundamentally redesigning work with AI. The response needs to be organizational: embed AI across customer experience, operations, R&D, strategy and talent, while keeping human judgement, trust, governance and accountability firmly at the center.

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Organizational Transformation in the Age of AI

AI is delivering measurable gains, yet most organizations still capture value through isolated pilots rather than enterprise redesign...

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Embracing gen AI at work​

Publisher: Harvard Business Review
Authors: H. James Wilson, Paul Daugherty
Published: September/October 2024

Artificial intelligence is now accessible to almost anyone, transforming over 40% of work activities. This article shows why to succeed in this new era of human-machine collaboration by mastering three “fusion skills” is crucial. Intelligent interrogation involves guiding AI to generate better outcomes—by, say, breaking processes down into steps or visualizing multiple potential paths to a solution. Judgment integration ensures AI output is reliable and ethical by incorporating human expertise and safeguarding data. Reciprocal apprenticing tailors AI to your company’s specific needs, enhancing both the AI and your skills over time. Mastering these skills will prepare you to thrive in the ongoing AI revolution.

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Embracing gen AI at work

Artificial intelligence is now accessible to almost anyone, transforming over 40% of work activities. This article shows why to succeed in this new era of human-machine collaboration by mastering...

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The AI Participation Gap

Authors: Matthew Prebble, Camilla Drejer, Dal Channa, Mamta Kapur
Published: March 2026

Small, people-first interventions can help people who struggle with digital inclusion use AI to great benefit, according to a study conducted by Accenture in partnership with Good Things Foundation and Generation UK. The key is helping people overcome fear and distrust of AI, ; existing cognitive overload, which AI may not alleviate; and basic issues of dependence, for example, those driven by language barriers. Effective actions include” being transparent about the brand or institution behind the AI tool:; creating safe spaces for practicing AI, with live guides available to offer support and guidance; and making deliberate design choices to simplify what people see, signpost key messages and ensure broad accessibility.


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The AI Participation Gap

Small, people-first interventions can help people who struggle with digital inclusion use AI to great benefit, according to a study conducted by Accenture in partnership with Good Things Foundation...

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Three ways AI is changing how
companies work

Publisher: Harvard Business Review
Authors: Karthik Narain, Bhaskar Ghosh, H. James Wilson, Prashant Shukla
Published: December 2024

AI is the “new digital” revolution, promising to generate as much growth in IT services over the next five years as was seen in the previous 10, according to our economic analysis. How? AI is transforming business operations in key areas such as real-time intelligence and data synthesis. The major complication it solves is the challenge of maintaining agility in a fast-paced business environment, where traditional periodic transformations are no longer sufficient. Our research suggests that businesses must evolve by training employees to be flexible, creative and strategic thinkers. For potential clients across industries, this means staying ahead of the curve with AI-driven insights, such as TikTok users spending 34 hours per month on the platform and 80% of Netflix content being AI-recommended, ensuring your business remains relevant and efficient.

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Three ways AI is changing how companies work

AI is the “new digital” revolution, promising to generate as much growth in IT services over the next five years as was seen in the previous 10, according to our economic...

more

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Living Your Organization’s AI Transformation

Authors: Stephen Wroblewski
Published: October 2025

Generative AI is tearing through the foundations of knowledge work—and leaders need to get personally involved in the messy, destabilizing process of rebuilding them if they’re truly going to drive growth. This can’t be a neat handoff to IT. It can’t be a lab experiment or a pilot for someone else to run. Why? Simple. Gen AI is challenging what it means to create value, make decisions, and exercise judgment at the highest levels of the enterprise. And if you’re not at least a little unsettled, you may not be close enough to what’s actually changing.

I know this from experience. As a consultant in Accenture’s Talent & Organization practice, I’m being asked not just for help with deploying AI tools, but also—and more importantly—for guidance on how to rethink talent strategy: how teams should work, what “expertise” now means, and what long-standing training models should give way to. And as I have learned, to remain trusted advisors, we have to push ourselves through what we’re asking others to do. What’s more, we have to do it as fast as possible, and continuously, to be sure we keep steering people in the right direction.

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Living Your Organization’s AI Transformation

Generative AI is not just changing workflows. It is forcing leaders to rethink expertise, trust and how work gets done ...

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Bridging the gap
Navigating the talent shortage in the semiconductor industry​

Authors: Deb Garand, Megan C. Berner, Stephen Hardin, Matthew Haggerty
Research lead: Matthew Haggerty
Published: August 2025

A deepening labor shortage threatens the U.S. semiconductor industry’s push for self-sufficiency. While federal investments and reshoring strategies are underway, Accenture forecasts a talent gap of up to 153,000 roles by 2035—double today’s shortage—even with a projected 25% growth in the talent pool. The industry must act across three fronts: strategic workforce planning to unlock untapped talent pools, reskilling to meet evolving needs and scaling automation and AI to boost productivity. Our research also shows that 74% of manufacturers plan to upskill their workforce, yet 67% of workers remain dissatisfied with current training, a mismatch that calls for urgent, systemic change.

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Bridging the gap

A deepening labor shortage threatens the U.S. semiconductor industry’s push for self-sufficiency. While federal investments and reshoring strategies are underway, Accenture...

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Reinventing enterprise models in the age of generative AI

Authors: Karalee Close, Kestas Sereiva
Research lead: Mamta Kapur
Published: March 2025

Gen AI is redefining work. While 97% of executives expect it to transform their industries, only 35% feel equipped to lead that change. To unlock its full value, organizations must move beyond pilots and restructure for continuous reinvention. Accenture identifies four imperatives: amplify intelligence through human + AI collaboration; build dynamic skills as job half-lives shrink; dissolve traditional boundaries between teams and functions; and design adaptable structures where human-machine partnerships are the new unit of work. Those that evolve now—replacing static hierarchies with agile, AI-infused operating models—will lead the next era of enterprise performance.

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Reinventing enterprise models in the age of generative AI

Gen AI is redefining work. While 97% of executives expect it to transform their industries, only 35% feel equipped to lead that change...

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Untapped talent: Women in semiconductors

Authors: Timothy Chu, Cathy Chen
Research lead: Matthew Haggerty
Published: April 2025

The semiconductor industry faces both a talent crisis and a trillion-dollar opportunity. Yet women remain significantly underrepresented—especially in technical leadership, where 72% of companies report less than 20% female director representation. Now in its sixth year, the Accenture–Global Semiconductor Alliance study identifies concrete actions to improve recruitment, retention and advancement. While mentorship programs are common, sponsorship and allyship lag. Only 54% of companies publicly commit to equality. To compete at scale, the industry must unlock the full talent pool—building inclusive cultures and rethinking leadership pipelines to ensure women can rise with the technologies they help shape.

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Untapped talent: Women in semiconductors

The semiconductor industry faces both a talent crisis and a trillion-dollar opportunity. Yet women remain significantly underrepresented—especially in technical...

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Hidden workers: The case for caregivers

Authors: Joseph B. Fuller, Manjari Raman, Francis Hintermann
Research lead: Hélène Vallières-Goulet
Published: October 2024

In tight labor markets, employers face mounting challenges filling roles—yet millions of capable workers remain sidelined. Chief among them: caregivers, individuals who leave or reduce paid work to care for children, elderly parents or ill family members. These workers often face rigid hiring systems that penalize résumé gaps, making them “hidden” from applicant pools. New research from Accenture and Harvard Business School finds 86% of such hidden workers are caregivers. Yet only 23% of employers actively recruit them. By redesigning hiring practices and offering targeted support, companies can unlock this overlooked talent and close persistent workforce gaps.

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Hidden workers: The case for caregivers

In tight labor markets, employers face mounting challenges filling roles—yet millions of capable workers remain sidelined. Chief among them: caregivers, individuals...

more

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Accenture pulse of change​

Authors: Jill Kramer, Francis Hintermann
Research leads: Michael Malinosky, Corbin Lazier
Published: January 2025

C-suite leaders expect continued disruption in 2025— especially from gen AI. While 86% are prepared to invest and 60% plan to scale AI across their organizations, just 12% cite workforce skill-building as a top priority. A growing gap is emerging: Only 35% of employees understand gen AI’s value to a great extent, and 68% lack full access to AI tools. Accenture’s Pulse of Change, published regularly during the year, surveyed 6.450 leaders and workers for this issue. It reveals that trust, training and infrastructure are critical to capturing value. Without closing the disconnect between leaders and employees, the potential of AI-driven transformation may stall before it scales.

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Accenture pulse of change

C-suite leaders expect continued disruption in 2025— especially from gen AI. While 86% are prepared to invest and 60% plan to scale AI across their organizations...

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The velocity of work

Authors: Elaine Turville, Britaini Carroll, Caitlin Gandhi, Sarah Berger
Published: December 2025

Nearly one-third of federal leaders expect generative AI to boost productivity by at least 30% within three years, yet most agencies are still struggling to move from pilots to impact. Our report examines a federal environment facing rising public expectations, tighter budgets and workforce constraints, making AI essential to sustaining mission delivery. The core challenge is execution: while 94% believe AI serves cost reduction, scaling it demands deliberate choices about where to start and how to modernize data, systems and work models. Accenture identifies five high-value starting points—from personal productivity and customer service to fraud prevention and system modernization—and a clear set of criteria to determine use cases. By targeting the right workflows first, agencies can deliver faster services, measurable savings and durable productivity gains.


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The velocity of work

Nearly one-third of federal leaders expect generative AI to boost productivity by at least 30% within three years, yet most agencies are still struggling to move from pilots to impact. Our report...

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RISE with AI
Get your workforce AI-ready for the future of financial service

Authors: Sophie Hulm, Paul Stanley, Camilla Drejer,
Andrew Young, Mamta Kapur, Cyrus Suntook, Alessandra Corti
Research lead: Mamta Kapur
Published: March 2025

Gen AI is transforming UK financial services, but a two-tier workforce is emerging—those ready to thrive in an AI-driven economy, and those left behind. Only 8% of firms have scaled AI successfully, largely due to a lack of workforce readiness. Employees from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are disproportionately excluded. Accenture proposes the RISE model—Reinforce readiness, Inspire confidence, Strengthen governance and Empower employees—to close the AI divide. Firms applying this people-centric approach achieve up to 30% productivity gains and 8% revenue growth. In the AI era, inclusive talent strategy is not optional—it’s the foundation for sustainable advantage.

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RISE with AI

Gen AI is transforming UK financial services, but a two-tier workforce is emerging—those ready to thrive in an AI-driven economy, and those left behind. Only 8% of firms have scaled AI successfully...

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Hidden workers: The case for caregivers

Authors: Joseph B. Fuller, Manjari Raman, Francis Hintermann
Research lead: Hélène Vallières-Goulet
Published: October 2024

In tight labor markets, employers face mounting challenges filling roles—yet millions of capable workers remain sidelined. Chief among them: caregivers, individuals who leave or reduce paid work to care for children, elderly parents or ill family members. These workers often face rigid hiring systems that penalize résumé gaps, making them “hidden” from applicant pools. New research from Accenture and Harvard Business School finds 86% of such hidden workers are caregivers. Yet only 23% of employers actively recruit them. By redesigning hiring practices and offering targeted support, companies can unlock this overlooked talent and close persistent workforce gaps.

Read full report

Hidden workers: The case for caregivers

In tight labor markets, employers face mounting challenges filling roles—yet millions of capable workers remain sidelined. Chief among them: caregivers, individuals...

more

Read Report