Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
More than half of surveyed British CFOs expect AI-related job cuts
More than half of surveyed British CFOs expect AI-related job cuts over the next year.
Deloitte surveyed 66 finance chiefs at large British businesses between September 17 and October 1.
AI adoption is still at an early stage: 67% said their firms had made only a quarter of the changes they ultimately expect.
The shift comes as Britain faces rising long-term unemployment and youth joblessness, even while its economy is growing faster than European peers.
Only a third expect AI to raise profit margins in the next year, so the financial gains remain uncertain.
A separate report said firms are spending more on AI tools without training workers to use them.
The changes pose a challenge for the Labour government, while AI Minister Kanishka Narayan has said workers should not bear the cost of the AI revolution.
More than half of surveyed British chief financial officers expect their firms to cut jobs because of artificial intelligence over the next year.
Deloitte said 52% of the CFOs it surveyed expect AI-related headcount cuts.
AI adoption remains at an early stage, with 67% of respondents saying they have achieved only a quarter of the changes they ultimately expect.
Only a third of the CFOs believe AI will increase profit margins in the next year.
Deloitte surveyed 66 CFOs between Sept 17 and Oct 1.
- Who
- Deloitte surveyed 66 chief financial officers at British companies.
- What
- 52% expect their firms to cut headcount because of AI over the next year.
- When
- The survey was conducted between Sept 17 and Oct 1, 2026; Deloitte reported its findings on Oct 14.
- Where
- Britain.
- Why
- Firms are using AI to cut costs and expand with fewer roles.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Deloitte surveyed 66 chief financial officers.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said he understood people’s anxiety about AI and jobs in a speech.
Deloitte reported that 52% of surveyed CFOs expected AI-related headcount cuts over the next year.
- CFOs expecting job cuts
- 52%
- CFOs reporting early AI progress
- 67% said they had achieved a quarter of the changes they ultimately expect
- Survey respondents
- 66 CFOs
- Survey period
- Sept 17-Oct 1
- FTSE 100 respondents
- 12 CFOs
- FTSE 250 respondents
- 25 CFOs
What people are saying
I understand why people are naturally anxious about their jobs and what artificial intelligence means for their children’s future
I feel that concern, that anxiety too.
Almost none of them know what their people can do with AI, and that is where their spend is going to waste