89% of US CEOs Plan to Hire More Workers as AI Creates New Opportunities, KPMG Survey Finds

US CEOs Shift Perspective on AI and Jobs

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of 400 major US CEOs reveals a striking consensus: 89% expect to increase their overall headcount over the next three years as AI-driven business opportunities expand1

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. The survey, conducted from August 11 to September 21, contacted CEOs of companies with at least $500 million in annual revenue, capturing sentiment at a pivotal moment for AI adoption2

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. This data suggests business leaders increasingly view AI as a catalyst for growth rather than a tool for cutting labor costs. The findings matter because they challenge widespread worker anxiety about AI displacing jobs, offering instead a vision where technology creates demand for expanded workforces.

Redesigning Roles for Human-AI Collaboration

The survey reveals that 86% of US CEOs are redesigning roles, career paths, and team structures to reflect human-AI collaboration1

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. This process integration approach demonstrates how AI's role in reshaping employment extends beyond simple automation. About 80% of CEOs said AI has led their companies to reconsider employee development strategies, while 75% have reassessed entry-level skill requirements2

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. Meanwhile, 79% are actively hiring new talent with AI and tech capabilities, and 83% are focused on retaining or retraining high-potential talent1

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. KPMG U.S. CEO Tim Walsh explains the mechanism: "As we put more AI into our processes and platforms, the capacity opens up. What you're seeing there is CEOs being really optimistic that they can actually expand their business, which is going to result in a bigger workforce for them"1

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The Paradox of Hiring More Despite AI Boom

While the optimism around hiring more despite AI boom is notable, the reality remains nuanced. Despite the overall headcount increase expectations, 53% of CEOs are still planning workforce reductions in some areas1

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. This dual reality illustrates the complicated impact of AI on the economy, where job creation and displacement occur simultaneously across different functions and skill levels. The survey also reveals that while 84% of CEOs list AI adoption as a top investment priority over the next three years, the returns are still materializing2

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. Only 40% said AI agents had made "significant" improvements to their company's performance, and merely 9% described the current impact of agentic AI as "transformational"2

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. Moreover, adoption costs remain a widespread concern among business leaders2

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Cybersecurity Threats Loom Large

As CEOs embrace AI integration, cybersecurity threats have emerged as a critical concern. The survey found that 85% of CEOs anticipate cybersecurity threats will impact their organization's prosperity over the next three years1

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. Tim Walsh notes that CEOs are bracing for something "damaging in a very significant way," adding that "there is an acknowledgement out there -- and it's pretty widespread -- that you know that something's going to happen"1

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. This nervousness stems from swirling concerns about AI going rogue and attacking infrastructure or critical business operations. However, this risk also presents opportunities as businesses shore up their defenses, with 48% of CEOs planning to boost their spending on cybersecurity over the next three years1

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. Watch for how companies balance AI expansion with security investments, and whether the predicted cyber incidents materialize in ways that reshape AI deployment strategies across industries.