Business leaders expect AI to expand rather than shrink workforces, JLL report claims

Most senior business leaders expect artificial intelligence to lead to workforce growth and job redesign rather than widespread redundancies, according to new global research from commercial real estate firm JLL. The company’s 2026 Future of Work Survey, based on responses from more than 2,200 C-suite executives and corporate real estate leaders across 21 countries, found that 60 percent of respondents expect their organisations to increase headcount over the coming years, while the same proportion believe AI will reinvent existing roles rather than replace them. The findings challenge what JLL says are widespread concerns about AI-driven job losses, although the report acknowledges that some roles are still expected to disappear as organisations adopt the technology.

According to the survey, organisations that are further advanced in their use of AI are more likely to recruit full-time employees, invest in entry-level talent and redesign jobs so that people work alongside AI systems rather than being replaced by them.

Despite these expectations, the research suggests that most organisations remain at an early stage of AI adoption. While 78 percent of respondents believe AI will significantly influence their real estate strategy, only 31 percent are actively preparing workplaces to support collaboration between people and AI, and just 15 percent say they have reached what the report describes as the optimisation stage of AI adoption.

Instead, many organisations remain in the planning phase. Around 46 percent are monitoring developments in AI, while 40 percent are analysing its potential impact on their corporate real estate operations before committing to significant workplace changes.

Neil Murray, chief executive of real estate management services at JLL, said the public debate had focused heavily on potential job losses, while many businesses were taking a different view. “The public conversation around AI has been dominated by its impact on jobs and our research reveals that most companies are focused on the opportunities that come with AI,” he said. “Most forward-thinking leaders aren’t just buying technology; they are investing in their people. They are pursuing a strategy of human-machine enhancement to create additional roles, boost productivity and drive sustainable growth.”

The report also identifies skills shortages as a significant obstacle to wider AI adoption. More than a third, 36 percent, of respondents cited gaps in AI, analytics and emerging technology skills as their biggest challenge over the next three to five years. Other barriers included limited change management expertise, organisational silos and difficulties measuring the impact of AI investments.

Technology-related risks also feature prominently in the findings. Cybersecurity and data privacy were identified as the leading concern by 47 percent of respondents, followed by economic volatility and budget pressures at 43 percent, AI and technology disruption at 41 percent and uncertainty about AI’s long-term impact on office space at 40 percent.

The survey suggests productivity has become the dominant priority for workplace investment. Advanced technology and AI support were identified by 46 percent of respondents as the most important factor in improving employee productivity, followed by reliable technology infrastructure at 44 percent. By comparison, adaptable workspaces were selected by 31 percent and wellbeing amenities by 24 percent.

JLL argues that this shift is creating tension between organisations’ ambitions and the cost of delivering AI-enabled workplaces. Rising energy costs, investment in technology infrastructure and AI-driven automation were all identified as significant financial pressures.

Peter Miscovich, JLL’s global future of work leader, said organisations leading in AI adoption were increasingly integrating workplace, technology and people strategies. “We are seeing a fundamental shift in what defines a high-performing company,” he said. “Leading organisations are demonstrating deeper integration between real estate, HR and technology to support their business strategies.”

The report suggests organisations are responding to these pressures in different ways. Some are prioritising operational efficiency and delaying transformation because of cost constraints, others are outsourcing elements of workplace delivery, while the most advanced organisations are investing in new skills, change management and closer collaboration across business functions to support long-term AI adoption.