Deloitte Survey: Over Half of UK Large Enterprises Plan AI Job Cuts
A Deloitte survey published in October 2025 reveals that 52% of chief financial officers at large UK enterprises expect to use artificial intelligence to reduce their workforce over the coming year. Furthermore, 67% of surveyed executives noted that they have currently achieved only a quarter of the transformative potential they expect AI to bring. This trend highlights the growing socio-economic tension between corporate cost-cutting through automation and rising long-term unemployment, posing a significant political challenge for the UK government. It also underscores a paradox where companies rush to adopt AI tools despite only one-third of CFOs believing the technology will actually boost profit margins in the near term. The Deloitte report, based on a survey of 66 CFOs conducted between September 17 and October 1, 2025, coincides with a separate finding by Multiverse showing that many companies waste AI investments by failing to train their existing employees on how to use these tools effectively.
## BACKGROUND
Artificial intelligence adoption in the corporate sector involves integrating machine learning and generative AI models into everyday workflows to automate tasks traditionally performed by humans. As companies face high labor costs and increasing competitive pressures, many view AI as a primary lever for operational efficiency, though this shift often triggers widespread concerns about labor displacement.