The pace of disruption in the region is accelerating, reshaping the future of business amid economic, technological and geopolitical shifts, according to Accenture.
Accenture conducted two complementary global surveys between May and June 2025. The first surveyed 3,000 C-suite executives from the world’s largest organizations (annual revenues greater than $500 million) across 22 industries and 18 countries.
The second surveyed 3,000 workers (non-C-suite) from organizations of the same scale, also across 22 industries and 18 countries.
Results show that 92% of executives in APAC report that the change they are experiencing has intensified since the start of the year, and 86% expect this pace of change to increase in the coming months.
What sets APAC apart is not just its pace of change, but its bold mindset. Executives are doubling down on AI investments, showing little hesitation even amid recessionary concerns. Yet, despite this confidence, many are underinvesting in workforce training—widening the readiness gap.
Fewer than half of executives surveyed view training and development as essential to AI transformation, even as employees actively embrace the technology. The result: a workforce eager but unprepared for the AI-driven future their leaders are building.
In order for ambition to not outpace enablement, leaders need to invest in building the right infrastructure, not just robust systems but also upskilled teams, to support their growth and scale their AI vision.
Findings also show that a majority (86%) of APAC C-suite executives plan to increase AI investments in 2025, but 41% are prioritizing employee upskilling and reskilling to enable and support this transformation.
C-suite leaders recognize the impact of this technology, with 58% reporting the greatest productivity gains in areas like IT/tech function, followed by operations (43%) and R&D (41%).
Employees are also increasingly embracing AI, with 55% saying they turn to AI first when they need task support, rather than seeking help from a colleague or team member. Data analysis is the most common use case, cited by 51% of employees, followed by learning and development, and research.
However, this ambition and investment are not aligned with the realities of workforce preparedness. Consequently, nearly three-quarters (73%) of employees feel the pace of AI advancement is outpacing their organization’s ability to train and prepare the workforce.
AI has had a noticeable impact on employee performance and development, with 57% reporting that AI helps them learn or improve their skills and 51% say AI helps them make better, more informed decisions.
To boost their confidence with using AI tools, 48% of employees would benefit from additional time to experiment and learn through practice, while 46% emphasize the need for clear company guidelines on how to use AI responsibly.
“Across the region (Southeast Asia), we’re seeing strong momentum behind AI investments, but enthusiasm alone doesn’t drive impact,” said Anoop Sagoo, Accenture CEO in Southeast Asia.
“Many leaders are still underinvesting in workforce training, creating a readiness gap that limits AI’s true potential,” the CEO said. When employees show a willingness to adapt, it’s not just a signal — it’s an opportunity to build the skills needed to fully harness AI.”
