Heading into 2025, one word is on the minds of many CHROs: talent.
Specifically, “How can my company retain and attract talent in 2025?”
Beyond the elements that are considered table stakes to employees—competitive salary and benefits, work-life balance, a safe and respectful working environment—you can do even more to bolster your approach to talent in 2025. As an employer, you can strengthen your value proposition by highlighting a commitment to innovative technology. In particular, AI.
As organizations recalibrate after years of disruption, employee engagement and innovation are emerging as critical focal points for 2025. At the center of this evolution is the role of AI, redefining how HR teams support their workforce and elevate their employer brand.
For HR, AI is now a talent issue. Employees want to use AI tools at work. Job seekers are asking companies if they can use AI in their prospective role to transform how work is done and deliver better outcomes. Knowledge workers are quickly adopting AI, with 9 in ten saying AI helps them focus on their most important work. Employees now trust AI more than HR and more than their manager.
It’s clear that AI can augment the skills, capabilities, and throughput of your company's talent. AI isn’t just a tool for productivity; it’s an enabler of growth, engagement, and a more resilient workforce.
It's possible HR ought to consider investments in AI a key component of workforce planning. For HR leaders, this means leveraging AI as a strategic enabler to drive talent development and productivity, and to ensure their teams are equipped to adapt, innovate, and excel in the years ahead. A new reality is setting in where skills are exhibited not just by employee talent but by AI capabilities.
Read on to find out how to attract the talent you want and keep the top talent you have—and help everyone feel more culturally engaged and aligned.
Use AI to attract and retain growth-oriented talent in 2025
An organization’s employee value proposition (EVP) represents who they are, how they work, and what they offer to employees. It’s a reflection of company values and a critical part of your company brand. A strong EVP drives talent acquisition, engagement, and retention while also reinforcing your employer brand.
With an investment in AI, you can show your workforce you value innovation and simultaneously equip your talent with tools that maximize their impact.
Let’s take a closer look at how and why employees are using AI at work.
- Most employees are already using AI at work. Three-quarters of employees use AI at work today, with most of them using it to save time (90%). They also use it to focus on their most important work (85%), be more creative (84%), and enjoy their work more (83%).
- Employees want to learn how to augment their work with AI so they can keep their skills current. AI skill-building is a key way to engage and retain top talent, with 4 in 5 people wanting to learn how to use AI at work (LinkedIn Learning)
- Efficiency and personal advancement are strong motivators when it comes to learning new tech. About a third (34%) of the workforce is motivated to use technology out of curiosity and the promise of better efficiency, and another third (37%) are motivated to use new tech if it advances their careers or helps them get a promotion or other recognition.
Show that you value innovation and forward thinking
AI has the potential to automate processes and boost productivity and efficiency at every company, but it represents much more than that. On an organizational level, it’s about identity. Every company is considering how to bring AI into their organization or risk the consequences of ignoring the technology.
The organizations that leverage AI thoughtfully are the ones that will stand out in the eyes of the talent they’re trying to invest in. They’re not just showing that they’re ready for what’s next—they’re defining it. A company that readily embraces AI signals that it has an innovative mission to prospective employees.
Many of your current employees likely already use AI tools informally to increase their efficiency, whether through chatbots, AI notetakers, AI Search Engines, or other tools. In fact, 3 in 4 knowledge workers are using AI in their roles today. Gen Z and Millennial employees desire tools that enable automation for repetitive tasks so they can focus on more creative, purposeful work. Take the step of formalizing and enhancing employee access to AI solutions to enable them to work smarter and cultivate a forward-thinking culture.
When you equip employees with AI, go beyond guidelines and trainings. Help them understand AI fundamentals so everyone be more effective in their roles and contribute even more to shared successes.
Consider technology enablement and employee listening
AI can also be a game-changer for employee engagement. Imagine that in an interview, a recruiter at your organization can say, “At our company, we listen to our workforce and give them the exact tools and technology they want to use." People want technology that works, systems that empower them, and tools that make their work more impactful. More than 60% of highly engaged employees say having access to the right technology, including automated tools for mundane tasks, was a motivator for them.
And let’s not forget the ripple effect: engaged employees will become advocates for your company brand.
Support productivity and a deeper understanding of company values
AI adoption can help companies create culture-building moments every day. In an EVP, this can come to life through company values.
Consider question-and-answer AI technology. More than half of employees prefer digital interactions for tasks related to scheduling time off, benefits, and updating personal information. AI provides immediate answers to policy and benefits questions, saving time and reducing frustration and friction. For employers, this enhances your value prop by demonstrating respect for employees’ time and a commitment to providing helpful, efficient tools that let them focus on what matters most.
In another example, an AI-augmented performance review process can guide and shape employees’ critical thinking about individual goals, strengths, and areas of improvement.
Employees complete their performance review process with a better understanding of how their work fits into overall company success, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and engagement. With AI, HR programs and processes that were traditionally centered on compliance can become areas for differentiation.
Wisq customers gain powerful AI tools to automate the busy work out of HR and accelerate the operating rhythm of their entire company. Learn more about using AI to accelerate your business.
Help employees do their best work
Employees want to do the best work of their lives. So consider investments in AI a differentiator among your competitors.
Your company can become a launchpad for career growth. Think about the talent you want to attract: ambitious, growth-oriented candidates who are eager to build their resumes with meaningful projects and new skills. By offering resources, training, and AI tools, you establish your organization as the ideal destination for ambitious, growth-oriented talent to thrive and build their careers.
This focus on growth and skill-building doesn’t just attract top talent; it will help address a critical gap in workforce readiness. A whopping 70% of people don’t feel prepared for the future of work. Imagine the advantage you could unlock simply by offering basic training on AI fluency and usage.
Ultimately, employees need to know not just how to use AI but how to leverage it intelligently—as a partner, not a replacement. By adopting AI now, you’re preparing your workforce for what’s next. Offering AI training and tools shows you’re committed to their development, stability, and career trajectory.
Using AI to boost your EVP
AI can enhance the employee experience for your entire workforce. Appeal to employees and the talent you’re trying to attract by appealing to their personal desire for growth, as well as their desire to work for a company that embraces new technology and listens to them.
A strong EVP demonstrates that your company values all contributions, not just those from a select few. By implementing AI tools that support employees’ day-to-day needs, like answering questions about benefits or automating tedious tasks—you show that you’re serious about helping everyone focus on meaningful, fulfilling work.
Incorporating AI into your organization is a strategic move to enhance your EVP, and it can create an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and excited to be part of your team.
