A vast majority of African chief executives, 81 per cent, believe that upskilling their workforce in artificial intelligence (AI) will be critical to their organisations’ success over the next three years, according to the KPMG 2025 Africa CEO Outlook report.
The figure is slightly higher than the global average of 77 per cent, signalling growing recognition across Africa that building AI capabilities within the workforce is essential for long-term competitiveness.
However, despite the optimism, only 64 per cent of African CEOs expressed concern that competition for AI talent would negatively affect their businesses — a lower proportion than the 70 per cent reported globally.
“This indicates that African CEOs prioritise nurturing AI talent from within their organisations and are investing in long-term skill development rather than relying on rapid external recruitment,” the report noted.
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, African leaders appear more intent on preparing their people — not just their systems — for the transformation ahead.
The report highlights that 67 per cent of African CEOs are redeploying staff internally into AI-related roles, compared to 59 per cent of their global counterparts.
This focus on internal development reflects a broader confidence in Africa’s youthful and adaptable workforce, positioning the continent strongly for sustainable, AI-driven growth.
“African CEOs are rethinking how their organisations attract, develop, and retain talent in the age of AI,” KPMG observed. “Growth will depend on how quickly organisations build skills, support learning, and foster cultures that adapt with agility.”
While African CEOs are optimistic about AI’s potential, many are also mindful of its challenges. More than half (52 per cent) expressed concern about AI’s potential impact on company culture, though this remains lower than the 63 per cent of global executives who shared the same worry.
Employee resistance to change also emerged as a concern for 36 per cent of African CEOs, compared to 33 per cent globally.
The study found that 70 per cent of African CEOs said AI has already influenced their employee training and development initiatives, slightly below the global average of 79 per cent.
However, only 62 per cent of African leaders prioritise retraining and retaining high-potential talent, compared to 71 per cent globally — suggesting greater emphasis on internal redeployment over external hiring.
Segun Sowande, Partner and Head of Clients and Markets at KPMG Africa, underscored the scale of transformation underway.
“The impact of Gen AI and technological innovations will shape and remodel new ways of working and running business operations at an unprecedented rate in the years to come,” Sowande said.
The KPMG 2025 Africa CEO Outlook gathered insights from more than 130 CEOs and business leaders across Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa.
The findings paint a picture of a region that is both pragmatic and proactive — aware of the challenges AI presents, yet determined to harness its potential by investing in people and cultivating in-house expertise.
