PwC’s Middle East Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025

• 75% of the regional workforce surveyed have used AI in their jobs in the past 12 months
• 85% say job security is their top priority when considering new roles
• Only 46% plan to ask for a pay rise in 2026, well below last year’s 71%

15 December 2025; Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – PwC Middle East has released new findings from its Middle East Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025, revealing how rising AI adoption, growing skills ambition and evolving expectations of work are reshaping the regional workforce. 

Drawing on responses from 1,286 employees across the region, the report shows a workforce that is confidently leading the integration of AI into daily work, highly motivated and focused on job security and skills development, at higher rates than their global counterparts.  

In the Middle East, nearly half of regional employees (49%) expect technological change, including AI, robotics and automation, to impact their jobs to a large or a very large extent over the next three years, compared with 45% globally. 

AI use is already widespread: 

• 75% of employees in the region have used AI tools in their roles over the past year (vs 69% globally)
• 32% use GenAI tools daily (vs 28% globally)

This illustrates not only higher adoption, but also greater readiness and comfort with next-generation technologies across the region.

Employees in the region view emerging technologies as tools that enhance productivity and creativity rather than threats to job security. Around eight in ten say AI has improved their productivity and 87% report higher-quality work and 84% greater creativity, all above global averages.  
 
Randa Bahsoun, Partner, PwC Middle East, said: “As employees confidently embrace change, build new capabilities and show remarkable adaptability with AI, they also want to feel secure and supported. Organisations that provide clarity on how roles will evolve, expand access to learning and protect wellbeing will be the ones that retain talent and get ahead in a fast-changing labour market.

Higher confidence in younger employees

Younger employees in the region are demonstrating significantly higher confidence in AI’s potential. Millennials and Gen Zs are among the most hands-on with AI tools, adopting new technologies quickly and often outpacing older cohorts in both usage and creative application. This puts early career employees in a strong position to adapt to the evolving technological demands of entry-level roles. For employers, this is an opportunity to leverage younger talent to drive digital adoption and performance, while providing guidance, clarity and support as AI continues to reshape the future of work.

A skills-first future

Skills development remains a defining priority of the region’s workforce. 

• 69% say they have gained new skills in the past 12 months, (vs 56% globally)
• 81% indicated they would prefer a job that offers opportunities to build transferable skills (vs 69% globally). 

High levels of engagement, but risk of burnout remains

Engagement levels remain among the highest globally with 78% of regional employees saying they look forward to going to work, compared with 64% globally. But despite a regional workforce deeply invested in its work, 45% say they feel fatigued at least once a week and nearly half report feeling overwhelmed, indicating that workload intensity is becoming a significant pressure point. 

Job security now a top priority

As employees in the Middle East seek balance and flexibility, their expectations of career progression and reward are also evolving. Fewer employees are asking for a pay rise than last year, signalling a more cautious labour market. Job security has also emerged as the top priority with 85% of employees considering it very important (vs 79% globally).  

The report highlights five actions organisations should prioritise to convert current momentum into lasting advantage:

• Lead with openness about technology’s role
• Build a continuously evolving, future-ready and skills-first workforce
• Create and nurture a culture of agility and innovation
• Equip managers to champion transformation on the ground 
• Sustain high performance through flexibility, autonomy and balanced intensity

Together, the findings of this report demonstrate a workforce that is motivated, seeking growth and stability and ready for the AI-enabled future, provided organisations lead with transparency, capability building and wellbeing at the centre.

Read the full report here.