AI adoption is boosting productivity, particularly among Indonesia’s Gen Z, yet skill gaps across generations remain a challenge

• In Indonesia, daily GenAI users report significantly greater benefits than infrequent users – 96% vs 75% for productivity, 82% vs 63% for job security, and 72% vs 52% for salary gains 
• AI adoption remains uneven, with only 14% of global respondents using GenAI daily and 54% having used AI in the past year, compared to Indonesia’s 16% daily usage and 69% overall adoption. 
• The upskilling divide: just 51% of global non-managers feel they have learning resources versus 72% of senior executives, while in Indonesia, access rises from 64% for non-managers to 89% for senior executives. 
• Financial strain and stress remain concerns, with 55% of the global workforce experiencing strain and 35% feeling overwhelmed weekly, compared to 49% and 25% respectively in Indonesia. 

Jakarta, 23 February 2026 – Workers are weighing in on the hotly debated question of AI’s impact on productivity, growth, and jobs. PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025 indicates AI’s impact is growing and that optimism about its potential greatly outweighs anxiety.  

The survey, which interviewed nearly 50,000 workers globally, including 812 respondents from Indonesia, across 48 major economies and 28 sectors, reveals that daily GenAI users are far more likely to have experienced tangible benefits compared to infrequent users. Globally, 92% of daily users report improved productivity, 58% feel more secure in their jobs, and 52% have seen salary increases. In Indonesia, these figures are even higher: 96% for productivity, 82% for job security, and 72% for salary gains. 

By contrast, infrequent users globally report only 58% for productivity, 36% for job security, and 32% for salary improvements. In Indonesia, infrequent users still outperform the global average, with 75% for productivity, 63% for job security, and 52% for salary. This underscores that in Indonesia, the positive impact of daily GenAI use on productivity, job security, and compensation is significantly stronger than the global trend. 

Pete Brown, PwC Global Workforce Leader, said, “Employees using AI every day are reaping the rewards – higher productivity, greater job security, and better pay. But to scale these benefits, businesses must go beyond training. Work itself needs to be redesigned and the human–machine partnership redefined. Getting this right will determine whether GenAI becomes a true engine of growth and inclusion, or a missed opportunity.” 

Globally, 54% of workers report having used AI for their role in the past 12 months, yet frequent utilisation remains low, signalling significant room for growth and access to tangible benefits. Only 14% of respondents use generative AI on a daily basis, while an even smaller proportion just 6%, report daily use of agentic AI. 

In contrast, Indonesia shows higher overall adoption, with 69% of workers saying they have used AI for their role in the past year. However, daily usage has declined: only 16% of employees indicate daily use of generative AI, and 8% report using agentic AI each day. 

The upskilling divide: non-managers are falling behind senior executives in their growth opportunities and outlook 

Lita Dewi, PwC Consulting Indonesia Workforce Transformation Leader, added, “These changes will define the future of work: Regulatory, technology, geopolitical as well as customer preference. In Indonesia, nearly half of workers surveyed expect major impacts from regulatory shifts (49%), and 45% anticipate technological transformation – rising to 74% among daily GenAI users. This shows that those embracing AI are better prepared for what’s ahead. Meanwhile, 44% surveyed workers believed that geopolitical conflict and change in customer preference are also impacting their jobs in the next three years.” 

While organisations are investing in upskilling programmes to keep pace with new and emerging technologies, the survey reveals that employer efforts remain uneven. Globally, only 51% of non-managers feel they have the resources they need for learning and development, compared with 66% of managers and 72% of senior executives. In Indonesia, the picture is more positive: 64% of non-managers report having access to the resources they need, rising to 78% among managers and 89% among senior executives. 

There are also marked differences in the extent to which workers feel part of a culture that supports learning. Globally, 54% of workers say their team treats failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, with this figure rising to 65% in the technology sector and falling to just 47% in transport and logistics. In contrast, Indonesia demonstrates a stronger learning culture overall: 72% of workers report that their team views failure as a chance to learn. This commitment is even more pronounced in Financial Services, where the figure reaches 88%, while Energy, Utilities & Resources stands at 62%. These results suggest that Indonesian organisations are fostering a more supportive environment for learning compared to the global average. 

Financial strain rises – mounting pressure on employee motivation 

Financial pressures remain a concern, with 55% of the global workforce experiencing strain, up from 52% in 2024. Just over one-third (35%) feel overwhelmed, rising to 42% among Gen Z. Fewer than half (43%) received a pay rise in the past year, and only 17% secured a promotion. Intentions to seek pay rises and promotions have also declined year on year, from 43% to 37% and from 35% to 32% respectively. In Indonesia, the picture is somewhat different: 49% of workers report financial strain, down from 61% last year. A quarter (25%) say they feel overwhelmed, while 41% report fatigue. More than half (53%) received a pay rise, though just 10% achieved a promotion. Ambitions have softened here too, with 32% planning to ask for a raise and 31% for a promotion, alongside 18% considering a change of employer – all lower than the peaks seen in 2024. 

The survey results show that employees in Indonesia feel significantly more comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas about work with their team compared to the global average. As many as 76% of respondents in Indonesia reported feeling comfortable expressing their views and suggestions, far above the global average of just 62%. Interestingly, generational differences also emerged: Gen X managers in Indonesia recorded the highest score in expressing their views and suggestions at 89%, compared to the national average and well above the global figure of 70%, while Gen Z non-managers ranked lowest at 68%, though still higher than the global average of 55%.   

Leaders today stand at a pivotal moment, empowered to shape organisations that not only meet but exceed evolving workforce expectations, especially by harnessing the transformative potential of AI to become genuinely AI-ready. Lita Dewi, PwC Consulting Indonesia Workforce Transformation Partner, added, “The journey begins with closing the AI power gap, which requires a clear articulation of workforce strategies and capabilities, alongside a fundamental reimagining of organisational structures and workflows to boost agility and fast-track the adoption of change.” 

From there, organisations must amplify career mobility by establishing transparent, dynamic career pathways and facilitating seamless movement across roles, levels, and geographies, while embedding a culture of continuous, lifelong learning to enhance critical skills and keep up to pace with rapid technological advances. 

Cultivating an environment of psychological safety and trust, where leadership openly models vulnerability, embraces transparency, and encourages learning from mistakes is equally critical. By fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace, organisations can unlock the full potential of their people and drive sustainable innovation in the AI era.