In a striking indicator of Africa’s accelerating digital transformation, 64% of African workers reported using artificial intelligence (AI) at work in the past 12 months, significantly ahead of the global average of 54%, according to a new survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This leap reflects not only a growing readiness to embrace new technologies across Africa but also that digital adoption may be key to unlocking productivity, career mobility, and competitiveness in the region.
According to the PwC Africa Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey 2025, 64% of African workers reported using AI at some point in the past year, but this headline figure masks wide differences in how frequently and deeply it is used. Only 17% said they use AI agents such as on a daily basis. While weekly use of generative AI tools rose modestly by four percentage points from 2024, most workers still report never having used an AI agent for workflow automation, scheduling and coordination. The survey covered 49,843 workers across 48 countries and 28 sectors globally, and in Africa, it sampled 1,753 workers across five countries: Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa.
What this suggests is that many organisations in Africa are already deploying AI in workflows, but it is likely at an early stage, possibly in forms like augmented decision-making, analytics, or basic task automation, rather than full-scale, enterprise-wide AI transformation.
The worker’s view
Beyond usage, the survey reveals strong optimism among African workers about the impact of AI. Among those who have used AI in the last year, 76% believe that generative AI has improved their quality of work, and 72% expect meaningful productivity gains over the next three years. These mean that employees see AI not as a threat, but as an enabler of better outcomes and performance.
Part of this optimism may reflect Africa’s broader workforce profile: younger, energetic, and digitally literate. About 75% of the respondents are under the age of 43, with 29% representing Gen Z and 44% Millennials. This demographic advantage, combined with stronger-than-average manager support and faster skills development—at a rate 15% higher than that of global peers—may help explain why Africa is outpacing global averages in AI adoption.
Several factors appear to explain Africa’s stronger uptake of AI compared to other regions. According to the report, the continent benefits from a digitally native workforce, young, tech-curious, and increasingly literate in digital tools, which makes employees more comfortable adopting new technologies.
Many organisations are also leap-frogging legacy infrastructure, allowing them to implement cloud, AI and automation faster than their counterparts in markets weighed down by older systems. The demand for productivity gains is especially high across Africa, where margin pressures, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory complexity make AI an attractive route to competitive advantage and operational resilience.
Additionally, the survey shows that African workers enjoy stronger access to learning opportunities and greater manager support than the global average. This suggests that, despite structural challenges across many African labour markets, employers are placing increasing emphasis on upskilling and on-the-job development, while managers are playing a more active role in guiding workers through change. In practical terms, this means African workers are more likely than their global peers to feel supported by their supervisors and to have access to training that helps them adapt to new technologies, including AI—even if day-to-day usage of advanced tools like AI agents remains relatively low.
But the road from use to impact is not straightforward
While the 64% usage figure is impressive, the survey also highlights areas of concern.
Around 35% of African workers believe their current skills will remain relevant in the next three years, reflecting widespread uncertainty about keeping pace with rapid technological change. And although many employees still feel secure in their roles in the short term, the accelerating impact of generative AI, automation and robotics means that nearly half of today’s jobs could see significant transformation.
Compounding these concerns is the fact that many organisations have yet to fully embed AI into their long-term strategies. The survey notes that although CEOs frequently point to efficiency gains from AI, only about one in three companies has integrated AI deeply enough into workforce planning. This gap between optimism and actual preparedness suggests that without more deliberate action, both workers and organisations risk falling behind as AI reshapes the world of work.
Similarly, the gap between optimism and execution means that while adoption is high, actual transformation and scaling of AI across workflows remains a work in progress.
Implications for organisations
The survey provides a clear roadmap for AI adoption among African businesses. Organisations must scale pilot programs into enterprise-grade deployments, rather than limit AI adoption to isolated experiments.
The report also underscores the importance of embedding AI into organisational strategy. Companies are advised to integrate AI into workforce planning, digital infrastructure, and capability development, rather than treating it as a side project. Equitable AI adoption across all workforce levels is another key finding. The report indicates that while senior executives report higher productivity gains from AI, non-managers may experience lower benefits. Additionally, African organisations are encouraged to leverage cultural strengths—such as psychological safety, trust in management, and alignment with organisational goals—which are above global averages, to accelerate transformation and enhance the sustainability of AI-driven initiatives.
Wider implications for Africa’s future of work
From a broader perspective, the survey positions Africa as a potential leader in the future of work. It notes that as global firms compete for digital talent and multinational companies pursue growth in emerging markets, Africa’s high uptake of AI tools could provide a competitive advantage.
However, the survey cautions that this advantage is conditional. Africa must move beyond being a technology usage zone and focus on becoming a creator and deployer of AI-enabled business models, products, and services. Achieving this requires investment in infrastructure, regulatory clarity, digital governance, and inclusive skills development.
The report further emphasises that organisations across sectors—including manufacturing, telecommunications, and public services—must translate individual AI usage into broader organisational transformation. This includes developing new operating models, creating new value chains, and restructuring the workforce to fully harness AI’s potential.
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