A recent PwC survey has found that artificial intelligence (AI) is creating a new divide in the workforce, with a small group of employees using the technology to boost productivity while a larger group risks being left behind. The survey, which gathered responses from 49,364 workers in 48 countries and 29 sectors, identified a small group of "front-runners" accounting for 14% of workers. These employees combine strong AI capabilities with in-demand skills.
The survey also found that 64% of workers now use AI in their jobs, up 10 percentage points from last year. Daily use of generative AI has risen from 14% to 22%. However, the gains are uneven, with more than half of the front-runner group using GenAI daily, compared with only 11% of the core workforce. This divide is particularly significant because AI is moving rapidly from experimentation into everyday work.
The PwC report highlights that the issue is not necessarily that machines will eliminate jobs, but rather that workers who know how to use AI alongside their existing expertise could become more valuable than those performing the same tasks without the technology. This is already reflected in the global wage market, with workers with AI skills commanding a 62% wage premium, up from 57% in 2025.
The survey's findings are particularly relevant to Kenya's job market, which is characterized by a large informal economy and a persistent mismatch between available skills and opportunities. The 2026 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that although the economy created 822,100 jobs during the year, 87.2% of these were in the informal sector.
The World Bank has previously identified a mismatch between the skills young people in Kenya acquire and those demanded by the labor market. The PwC report suggests that this mismatch could take a new form as AI becomes embedded in recruitment, customer service, finance, communications, programming, marketing, and other professional functions.
East Africa is not starting from a position of technological disadvantage, with 72% of East African workers having used AI at work during the previous 12 months, compared with 54% globally. Daily GenAI use stood at 38% among regional respondents, with workers reporting strong gains in productivity, quality, and creativity from AI.
However, exposure to AI does not automatically translate into employability, with 71% of workers reporting access to learning and development resources, while 77% said they had acquired new skills during the previous year. Yet, financial pressure remains acute, with 77% of East African respondents reporting experiencing financial pressure.
Key points
- The PwC survey reveals a new workforce divide, with a small group of employees using AI to boost productivity while a larger group risks being left behind.
- The survey's findings are particularly relevant to Kenya's job market, which faces a persistent mismatch between available skills and opportunities.
- East Africa is not starting from a position of technological disadvantage, with high rates of AI adoption and use.
