As AI changes jobs, PwC plans to certify workers in critical thinking

Skills for changing roles

PwC US is developing a program to help staff build and demonstrate critical thinking and judgment as AI capabilities grow. Seals-Coffield said finding new ways to develop workers’ skills is important as AI handles tasks that were often done manually, including research, writing, and analysis.

First-year associates are already doing different work than they were two years ago, Seals-Coffield said. A PwC analysis of US job listings found that entry-level roles exposed to AI were more likely than in 2019 to include skills often associated with senior roles, such as judgment and leadership.

How certification will work

The program is expected to take about six months and will start with an assessment of employees’ thinking styles and how those styles may affect their judgment. It is intended to help workers recognize their strengths and identify areas needing more attention.

Employees will then use realistic simulations to apply the framework to work situations. A personalized AI coach will help them carry those lessons into daily tasks, while the material will be adapted to employees’ seniority levels.

Assessment and rollout

The framework is designed to help employees evaluate information, establish context, question assumptions, refine analysis, and communicate recommendations. Seals-Coffield said PwC sees these abilities as complementing its instruction on responsible AI use and professional skepticism.

The rollout will happen in stages, giving staff time to apply the lessons before development leaders assess proficiency through performance reviews. Seals-Coffield said the aim is not a conventional pass-or-fail test, but repeatable skills that can be evaluated at year-end; PwC’s target is completion by June 2027.

PwC continues to recruit on college campuses and makes offers to most of its summer interns, Seals-Coffield said. The company declined to provide year-over-year figures for entry-level hiring and said it will continue assessing employees’ AI and human skills throughout their careers.