McKinsey: 30% of Companies Expect Workforce Reductions From AI in the Next Year

Summary

McKinsey's State of AI 2026 survey, circulating in February 2026, found that 88% of organizations now report regular AI use in at least one business function — up from 78% the previous year. The survey identified a widening gap between current AI impact and expected near-term impact on workforce composition: a median of 17% of organizations reported workforce size declines in AI-affected functions over the past year, while a median of 30% expect workforce decreases in the year ahead. Only 13% ex