Make change and innovation part of your DNA: Australian insights from the 2024 Hopes and Fears Survey

Change is all around, and PwC’s 2024 Global Workforce Hopes and Fears survey confirms workers are feeling the crunch. Yet the survey also shows there are strong signs of optimism. Among the 56,000 workers across 50 countries and territories surveyed, including 1,500 from Australia, most are ready to adapt, eager to upskill and see the potential of generative AI (Gen AI) to increase efficiency.

Harnessing this optimism will empower, inspire and engage employees as workplaces transform – especially around AI.

Harness optimism for transformation that sticks

When organisations bring workers along on their business model reinvention journey, employees are better able to navigate change. Leaders can more effectively tackle the pain points, helping their employees to avoid change fatigue, understand why change is happening, build resilience, strengthen confidence in GenAI, and upskill. To harness optimism and navigate change, consider these actions:

• Create a culture of change: Make change a part of your DNA. Foster curiosity and continuous learning, and incorporate change through your organisation. Communicate clearly so everyone knows what they need to learn, and how to incorporate it into their work. As ways of working evolve, those with change embedded as business-as-usual will advance, bridge the skills gap, and help employees stay relevant and competitive.
• Share your vision: Whatever your business focus, ensure employees have a sense of identity and purpose. Engage workers in your organisation's vision for the future, especially around GenAI actions. Communicate how megatrends are altering the business and connect that to the changes you are asking employees to make, so they can help to bring strategy to life. Workers need to see the opportunity in change to be inspired to drive it. 
• Upskill: Building skills is critical to employee experience, and central to transformation. To help drive the organisation towards its vision, identify roles that you cannot do without and key  competencies and capabilities.
• Maximise GenAI’s potential: Embrace an AI culture, and empower the workforce to experiment. Be clear on the challenges and benefits of AI. Involve employees to foster ownership and readiness. Successfully integrating human and AI capabilities creates a symbiotic relationship that boosts productivity and creates a fulfilling work environment. 
• Embrace failure: Just as scientists persist through multiple attempts to develop cures, organisations should view setbacks as opportunities for innovation. This may unearth unexpected breakthroughs. Whether it’s implementing a niche solution or an enterprise-wide ERP, it’s not an end, it’s the foundation to innovate with AI – for the organisation and for people who continue transformation. Leverage talent and ideas, and embrace the possibility of failure as an opportunity for change and growth.

Australia’s workers ask ‘why change?’

Just over half of those surveyed in Australia (54%) questioned the need for change in their organisation, echoing sentiments from the 27th Annual Global CEO survey – Australian Insights. When employees don’t understand change or an organisation’s vision and purpose, they struggle to see where they fit in. Businesses then struggle to get the best out of their workforce.

The survey shows Australia’s workers are 11% more likely than their global counterparts to switch employers. Almost all say skills are a clincher to stay or go. The current skills shortage and low unemployment rate means if an organisation isn’t providing opportunities to learn, employees may seek them elsewhere. Many workers also say they’re experiencing change fatigue and feel overwhelmed. Leaders need to manage this fatigue, and keep employees empowered to support change – especially around GenAI.

The AI Imperative

Although AI is a significant driver of change, most respondents view it positively, seeing its potential to ease pressures and unlock efficiency and personal growth. This shows workers see AI as a beneficial addition rather than a threat to their jobs, providing opportunities to learn new skills. However, a gap exists between awareness of AI’s transformative potential and regular use, with just 19% using it daily. 

So what is holding us back? Around 25% of respondents say it’s a lack of access to AI tools. Others say it’s a lack of permission or trust. AI is an additive, not a replacement. AI is not going to eradicate roles, it is going to shift them, and organisations need to be ready.

Early adopters of AI, like PwC, have seen significant improvements in efficiency. Australia's strong foundation in research and its growing tech sector provides a solid base for further AI integration into everyday business. To remain competitive, organisations must accelerate AI education, investment, and adoption.