HBS Managing the Future of Work HBS Project on Managing the Future of Work 2025 Year in Review, 2026 Preview
Jan 29, 2026
A fast-paced review of 2025 workforce disruptions and how AI began reshaping jobs and organizations. Discussion of skills-first hiring, occupational churn, and new tools mapping local training and jobs. Stories on gig work trends, hybrid AI adoption in firms, and community factors that shape mobility and opportunity.
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AI Adoption Follows A J‑Curve
- Large-company AI adoption follows a J-curve where early implementation worsens economics before gains appear.
- Organizations must endure the trough and overcome competency traps to reach accelerating benefits.
AI And Robots Should Be Paired
- Combining AI with robotics and human workers expands capabilities beyond standalone AI applications.
- Organizations should explore co-bot models to push AI into new directions.
Adopt Skills‑First Hiring Practices
- Do adopt skills-first hiring to expand talent pools and reduce degree inflation.
- Change processes so hiring managers can confidently evaluate candidates by skills rather than degrees.