PwC grouped workers into four AI skill cohorts. The largest group is the engine room at 56%. They have few specialized skills and limited AI learning. Front-runners with strong AI skills make up 14%. AI insurgents with common AI skills are 18%. Indispensables with valued non-AI skills are 11%. Front-runners feel most secure and most likely to change jobs. Engine room workers feel least ready to adapt and least secure. PwC warns this creates a have and have-not divide. The survey ran in May and June 2026. It covered 49,364 workers across 48 countries. Pete Brown at PwC urged focus on the engine room group. He said the workforce may start moving at different speeds.

• 56% in the engine room cohort
• 49,364 workers surveyed
• 48 countries covered
• 29% of front-runners likely to change jobs