AI redesigns jobs, not cuts them: JLL study reveals business leaders expect workforce growth ahead

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Global study finds organizations further in AI adoption anticipate workforce growth, prioritize full-time roles and focus on productivity CHICAGO, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite concerns of AI-driven job losses, a new study from JLL (NYSE: JLL) finds that a majority of senior business leaders expect their workforces to grow (60%), not shrink (40%) – similarly, most expect AI to reinvent human roles (60%), rather than replace them (40%). JLL's 2026 Future of Work Survey  finds this picture is more pronounced among the most AI-advanced organizations, which are utilizing technology as a workforce augmenter and focusing on strategic expansion— even though they recognize it will not be uniform and some jobs will still be cut. Hence, more than others, they lean toward hiring full-time employees, investing in entry-level talent and actively redesigning roles to be enhanced by AI rather than eliminated. The biennial survey, conducted from January to April 2026, offers a comprehensive snapshot of the state of work through the lens of the key priorities, challenges and strategies of over 2,200 C-suite and CRE leaders across 21 countries. The 2026 survey found that despite 78% of respondents expecting AI to drive significant changes to their real estate portfolio strategy, only 31% are actively preparing to redesign spaces for human-AI collaboration and just 15% have reached the optimizing stage of AI adoption. The gap between what organizations believe and what they are doing defines the central challenge of the moment and it is being driven by critical tensions in terms of execution decisions, capabilities and budget constraints. An Execution Barrier While AI is generally expected to enhance human roles according to JLL's survey, most organizations are still examining the impacts on their organization, which leaves them in early stages of adoption. A small pool of respondents (15%) is in the optimization phase, moving beyond the pilot and scaling phases to actively prepare for the redesign of roles and places of work. However, the majority are in the monitoring and analysis stages, with 46% focused on tracking AI trends and 40% analyzing potential impacts on their CRE function . These CRE leaders are depending on workforce decisions as it relates to AI adoption in order to define their organizations' space transformations, creating a holding pattern that prevents forward progress. "The public conversation around AI has been dominated by its impact on jobs and our research reveals that most companies are focused on the opportunities that come with AI," said Neil Murray, CEO of Real Estate Management Services at JLL. "Most forward-thinking leaders aren't just buying technology; they are investing in their people. They are pursuing a strategy of human-machine enhancement to create additional roles, boost productivity and drive sustainable growth."

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