Artificial intelligence (AI) is placing growing pressure on HR teams, with 95 per cent of HR leaders reporting heavier workloads as organisations accelerate AI adoption, according to a study by The Coders Guild.
The research found that while companies are rapidly investing in AI technologies, workforce planning is lagging behind. Only 24 per cent of organisations have a documented AI workforce strategy, even though 67 per cent of HR leaders consider AI adoption a strategic business priority.
The study also revealed that 91 per cent of HR professionals have taken on additional responsibilities over the past year. Besides managing recruitment, compliance and employee relations, HR teams are increasingly expected to redesign workforce skills, introduce AI into hiring, develop governance policies, upskill employees and lead organisational change.
Despite these expanding responsibilities, only 23 per cent of HR departments have received AI-specific training. Fewer than one-third of HR leaders said they feel fully prepared to drive AI transformation within their organisations.
According to the report, 78 per cent of HR leaders expect AI to significantly reshape workforce skills over the next three years. However, many organisations continue to treat AI as a technology project rather than a workforce transformation initiative, leaving HR teams to bridge the gap between technology adoption and employee readiness.
The study also highlighted changing hiring trends. About 71 per cent of HR leaders believe AI will transform recruitment within the next two years, while 68 per cent expect AI literacy to become a standard workplace skill within five years. More than half of hiring managers admitted they are unsure how to assess AI capabilities during recruitment.
AI skills are also emerging as a competitive advantage. Employees with AI expertise can earn 20–25 per cent higher salaries, while HR professionals with AI capabilities may receive similar pay premiums.
The report further found that 64 per cent of employees view AI training as an attractive employee benefit, and workers who receive AI training are 35 per cent less likely to actively seek another job.
Governance remains another key challenge. Nearly two-thirds of HR leaders expressed concerns about AI-related compliance risks, while 54 per cent of organisations do not yet have formal policies governing employees’ use of AI tools.
The report concludes that organisations will need to invest as much in workforce readiness, skills development and governance as they do in AI technology if they want to realise long-term benefits from AI adoption.
