More than eight in 10 (84 per cent) employers say artificial intelligence is starting to affect their succession planning, according to a new survey by Robert Half Canada Inc.
The survey, which polled 1,500 hiring managers across six professional fields in Canada, found more than half (54 per cent) of employers have accelerated their promotion timelines for AI-savvy employees and changed the skills needed for future leaders. More than four in 10 (45 per cent) reported gaps in their future leadership pipeline through reduced entry-level positions.
Read: Six in 10 employers say AI-generated applications slowing recruitment process: survey
It also noted AI’s impact on succession planning depends on a company’s size. While more than a third (36 per cent) of small businesses report AI has thus far made no significant impact on their succession planning, only 11 per cent of medium-sized employers and 14 per cent of large businesses said the same.
A separate survey of more than 1,400 professionals said AI is impacting their careers in several ways, including the creation of advancement opportunities (25 per cent), the requirement of different skills needed for advancement (25 per cent) and the creation of new positions that are of interest to them (17 per cent).
Read: Men report more confidence, employer support for AI use than women: survey