Signal Most organizations still plan the workforce every two to three years or annually

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey shows that workforce planning cycles remain slow relative to the pace of AI change. Thirty-nine percent of respondents conduct strategic workforce planning only every two to three years. Another 39 percent do it once a year. Just 14 percent, mostly in sectors such as technology, media, and telecommunications, have adopted more flexible planning. McKinsey argues that organizations need more dynamic and frequent scenario planning that simulates different degrees of technological involvement, so they can anticipate capability needs and speed up reskilling.