The AI route to scaling output without scaling headcount

THE challenge facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) today is arguably no longer one of cutting costs, but closing capability gaps – without necessarily hiring to do so.

Today, layoffs are driven significantly by the need to restructure, rather than being signs of collapse. Teams are leaner, yet critical roles remain unfulfilled.

In the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report, 70 per cent of respondents plan to hire for new skills, even as 41 per cent expect to cut roles hit by automation.