KPMG CEO survey: 53% of large US companies plan AI-linked job cuts in some areas, yet 89% expect headcount to grow

53% of the chief executives of large US companies in KPMG's 2026 CEO Outlook plan job cuts in some areas as their workforce strategy responds to AI, yet 89% expect total headcount to grow over three years. KPMG published the survey on 15 October 2026, with answers from 400 US chief executives among more than 1,300 worldwide. The growth most of them expect is small: about 60% foresee an increase of less than 5%. Asked how their long-term workforce plans are changing because of AI, 83% said they are focusing on keeping and retraining existing staff, and about 60% named a skills gap in the workforce as their biggest people challenge. The survey does not say which jobs will grow or shrink, or how many roles AI will remove. Tim Walsh, KPMG's US chair and chief executive, said the focus on AI "has shifted from efficiency gains to how these investments will shape their business models, workforce and growth". These are expectations from executives, not job cuts that have happened, so they do not touch the AI layoffs tracker. What they show is that a majority of large-company bosses now plan for AI-related reductions somewhere in the business, even while they budget for a slightly larger workforce overall.