AI revolution reshapes work culture, employee expectations across Asia: Mercer
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — The landscape of work is undergoing a dramatic transformation as artificial intelligence continues to reshape how businesses operate and employees engage with their roles.
Recent data from the Mercer Global Talent Trends 2024 survey reveals a significant shift in employee expectations. Forty-two percent (42%) of workers report their needs are unmet in current positions—a stark increase from 19% just two years ago.
Evolving employee priorities
Modern workers are seeking more than just employment; they want to be active participants in shaping organizational culture. Job security, fair compensation, and work culture have emerged as the top retention factors in Asia. Employees across generations are united in their desire for respected brand association, workplace belonging, and managerial trust.
The AI productivity dividend
Organizations are anticipating substantial productivity gains of 10-50% through AI implementation. Currently, Asian workers spend over a third of their time on repetitive tasks, with only 26% dedicated to creative work. However, industry experts suggest that companies should share these efficiency gains with employees through enhanced benefits and upskilling opportunities.
“The World Economic Forum estimates that less than 40% of current skills will remain relevant in two years,” notes Kate Bravery, Global Advisory Solutions & Insights Leader at Mercer.
“Leading organizations are responding by building ‘skills-powered’ organizations.”
Success stories like Standard Chartered demonstrate the financial wisdom of this approach, with potential savings of up to $50,000 per employee through retraining rather than replacement. This has elevated skills development to a board-level priority across Asia.
To thrive in this new era, Bravery suggests that organizations must focus on human-centric productivity while ensuring ethical AI practices. The key lies in balancing technological advancement with human needs, creating an environment where both machines and people can excel together.
“In this new era of human-machine teaming, the opportunity isn’t just to improve efficiency, it’s to fundamentally reimagine how work gets done while keeping a close eye on the impact on humanity,” Bravery concluded.
