AI to loom large in 2026, CEO survey finds

Artificial intelligence (AI), revenue growth, and attracting top talent are on the minds of business leaders heading into 2026, according to results from the CEO Priorities and Perspectives study released December 4 by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

The study, based on a survey of 116 CEOs conducted in October 2025, found that:

• 40 percent are prioritizing the adoption of AI
• 31 percent are prioritizing revenue growth
• 27 percent are prioritizing top talent

“You have to have strong leaders and managers in place to help guide your teams through the massive (AI) transformation happening right now,” noted James Atkinson, vice president of thought leadership at SHRM. “If don’t have the right leadership in place this technological transformation can consume your company.”

While 87 percent of CEOs surveyed see AI-driven upskilling and reskilling to be prevalent next year, and also anticipate a growing emphasis on digital collaboration tools, the cost of labor is a concern. The CEOs indicated in the survey that:

• 81 percent expect rising labor and total workforce costs
• 75 percent anticipate workforce reductions to be a trend
• 74 percent expect more companies to use restructuring efforts to improve agility and efficiency

Economic uncertainty, driven in part by tariffs and immigration policies, makes it difficult for organizations to plan and contributes to slower hiring, Atkinson noted.

While the labor market has been softening, there are still a number of jobs that cannot be filled because of a skills mismatch.

“There is pressure to cut costs, pressure to bring in AI, and at the same time certain occupations and industries still have to find that top talent,” he said.

Key to remember: CEOs see AI as a top priority next year and need to find the right talent while remaining conscious of labor costs.