SHRM urges human-AI balance as efficiency gains surge

“AI is no longer emerging; it’s fundamentally transforming how work gets done across every sector,” said Emily M. Dickens, SHRM’s chief administrative officer. “As adoption accelerates, employers face a fragmented and rapidly evolving policy landscape that lacks alignment with today’s workplace realities. What organizations urgently need is a clear, risk-based federal framework – one that delivers consistency, fosters innovation, and establishes robust guardrails.”

AI adoption expands across workplaces

According to the white paper, 89% of organisations using AI in human resources reported greater operational efficiency, with 36% citing lower hiring costs and 24% noting improved identification of top candidates. The findings place recruitment and talent acquisition as the HR function most penetrated by AI adoption, with 27% of organisations now deploying the technology to support those efforts.

The report also found that workforce transformation is outpacing displacement. Among organisations that had adopted AI by the end of 2025, only 7% of HR professionals reported layoffs attributable to the technology. By contrast, 24% reported the creation of new roles, 39% noted shifts in worker responsibilities, and 57% reported increased investment in upskilling or reskilling programs.

SHRM estimated that 15.1% of employment – approximately 23.2 million jobs – is at least half automated, with significant variation across industries.

Skills awareness is growing on both sides of the employment relationship. The white paper found that 83% of HR leaders and 76% of workers recognise the need for new skills as AI becomes more deeply embedded in daily work.