Over one-third of local CEOs expect AI to cut junior jobs: PwC

More than one-third of Bangladeshi chief executive officers expect artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce junior-level jobs over the next three years, according to a recent PwC report.

This compares with 43 percent in Southeast Asia and 49 percent globally, pointing to a relatively more cautious outlook in Bangladesh.

The findings are part of PwC’s 29th CEO Survey -- Bangladesh edition, which shows that around three in 10 CEOs also expect AI to reduce mid-level positions, broadly in line with global trends.

However, only a small proportion expect cuts in senior-level roles, suggesting AI is more likely to augment leadership than replace it.

The survey is based on PwC’s global study of 4,454 CEOs across 95 countries and territories, including 45 from Bangladesh. It was conducted between September 30 and November 10, 2025.

The report says Bangladesh is still in the early stages of scaling AI across enterprises, with adoption limited across most business functions. While firms are actively experimenting with AI, it has not yet become deeply embedded in core operations.

“Business leaders are no longer debating whether they need to reinvent themselves, but whether they are doing so at the right pace and with the necessary expertise to remain viable in the future,” said Shams Zaman, country managing partner, PwC Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi companies report relatively stronger AI use than their Southeast Asian counterparts in selected areas such as demand generation, support services and strategic decision-making.

One in five CEOs says their organisations use AI for demand generation and direction-setting, a higher share than among regional peers.

However, Bangladesh still lags behind the global average in areas such as support services and the development of AI-enabled products, services and customer experiences, where global adoption stands at around one-fifth.

PwC notes that the main challenge is not regional underperformance but scaling AI across organisations.

“To move beyond pilot projects, Bangladeshi companies like ours need to get the fundamentals right first -- a clear AI roadmap, strong data systems, and governance frameworks that fit our local context,” said Asif Bhuiyan, group CEO of AK Khan & Company Ltd, in the report.

The survey findings highlight this gap. Slightly more than four in 10 CEOs say their organisations have a clearly defined AI roadmap, while fewer than one in five report that their AI systems have access to all relevant organisational data. This places Bangladesh behind both regional and global peers in core AI readiness.

Only a small share of organisations have established formal responsible AI and risk-management frameworks. Just over one in five CEOs believe current AI investment levels are sufficient to meet their goals.

The readiness gap is also visible in manufacturing. While AI adoption remains at an early stage, executives see strong potential in predictive maintenance, quality control and supply-chain visibility, as global buyers increasingly demand speed, transparency and compliance.

“AI adoption in manufacturing in Bangladesh is still at an early stage, but there is strong potential in areas such as predictive maintenance, quality control and supply-chain visibility,” said Sharif Zahir, managing director of Ananta Apparels Ltd, adding that global buyers are demanding greater efficiency and accountability.

Despite these gaps, the report highlights some positive signals. About 64.1 percent of CEOs say their organisational culture supports AI adoption, while 58.9 percent say their technology environments are capable of integrating AI.

Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman said companies are now balancing efficiency gains with broader strategic priorities.

“The integration of AI into core operations is no longer optional — it is essential for improving efficiency and creating new growth opportunities. At the same time, sustainability, risk preparedness and climate resilience must remain central to our strategies,” he said.

Regarding financial outcomes, 20.5 percent of CEOs report that AI has increased revenue over the past year, while 25.6 percent say it has reduced costs. However, these gains are still concentrated among a limited number of firms rather than being widespread.

Concerns about AI safety remain relatively low in Bangladesh, with only 4.4 percent of CEOs reporting high or very high levels of concern, compared with a global average of 13 percent.