PwC Chairman Dismisses AI Doomsday for Jobs, Says Hiring Is Up
Amid widespread fears that artificial intelligence will lead to mass unemployment, the global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has offered a contrarian view: companies that adopt AI aggressively are actually hiring more people.
In an interview with CNBC at the VivaTech conference in Paris, PwC Global Chairman Mohamed Kande said the narrative that AI inevitably destroys jobs is oversimplified. Instead, he argued, the technology is enabling firms to expand into new products and services, creating demand for roles in implementation, governance, data management, and client delivery.
“When you look at companies that are adopting AI at scale, they are not just replacing people,” Kande said. “They are using AI to enhance employee capabilities and improve productivity, and that leads to growth.”
Kande’s remarks come as a counterpoint to doomsday predictions from some economists and technologists who warn that AI could automate a significant portion of existing jobs. A 2023 Goldman Sachs report estimated that AI could expose the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs to automation globally. However, the same report noted that technological advances have historically created new occupations.
According to Kande, the qualities that are becoming more valuable in the AI era are distinctly human: judgement, collaboration, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. As AI takes over routine and repetitive tasks, he said, these skills become even more critical for business success.
“AI is a tool, not a replacement,” Kande emphasised. “It allows workers to focus on higher-value activities that require creativity and human connection.”
He further pointed out that many of the fastest-growing AI adopters are actively recruiting for roles that did not exist a few years ago, such as AI ethicists, data stewards, and prompt engineers. This trend, he believes, will only accelerate as more organisations integrate AI into their operations.
Kande’s optimism, however, is not universally shared. Labour unions and some worker advocacy groups have called for stronger regulations to protect jobs and ensure fair transition. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has urged governments to develop policies that support retraining and social safety nets.
Nevertheless, PwC’s own research suggests that AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with much of that growth coming from product and service innovation rather than cost cutting.
“The key is to manage the transition responsibly,” Kande concluded. “Businesses, governments, and educational institutions must work together to equip people with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-augmented world.”
