In July 2025, the PINKTUM Institute, commissioned by the Pawlik Group, published a representative survey of 1,515 employees in Germany. Conducted in March 2025, the study explored how well the German workforce is prepared for a future shaped by artificial intelligence. The findings are a wake-up call:
- Unprepared for AI: Nearly 80% of employees have no clear plan for developing the skills they will need in an AI-driven workplace. Only 3.7% have a concrete development roadmap, with the number slightly higher among managers (11.9%).
- Misplaced learning priorities: Many employees focus on developing skills like “strategy building” or “problem analysis”—tasks that AI is likely to take over—while underestimating essential human skills such as empathy, teamwork, and a willingness to learn.
- Declining energy reserves: More than half of the workforce reports having less energy than three years ago, with the loss particularly acute among mid-career and lower-skilled employees.
- A growing divide: Younger and more highly qualified employees express far greater optimism and confidence in the future than their older or less-educated counterparts.
Bottom line: Without targeted upskilling and clear strategic direction, Germany risks falling behind in the global AI transformation.
Practical Steps for Leaders
Leaders today have a unique opportunity: not only to prepare their teams for the age of AI but to guide them toward a future where creativity, efficiency, and humanity are redefined.
1. Rethink learning
AI training must be more than a box-ticking exercise. Gamified learning platforms, hands-on hackathons, and peer-to-peer training make AI tangible and inspire curiosity. The goal: empower employees while fostering experimentation and excitement.
2. From testing to transforming
The best way to implement AI is through incremental steps. Leaders should launch pilot projects, highlight early wins, and learn together with their teams which use cases deliver real value. This iterative approach builds trust and long-term acceptance.
3. Co-create the future
AI reshapes not only workflows but also the very identity of work. Discussion groups on future scenarios, ethics, and personal perspectives reduce uncertainty and provide direction. Leaders can act as facilitators and catalysts for these conversations.
4. Build a culture of co-creation
The greatest opportunity lies in introducing AI with employees, not to employees. Idea challenges, internal innovation programs, and designating “AI ambassadors” within teams ensure that transformation grows from within the organization.
Conclusion
The AI revolution is not merely a technological shift—it is an invitation to rethink the future of work. Leaders who embrace curiosity, dialogue, and co-creation will empower their teams to not only adapt to change but to actively shape it.
