A New Era of Work: How CHROs Are Embracing Digital Labor and Shaping a Human-AI Workforce

The future of work is arriving faster than many expected and HR leaders are not just preparing for it, they’re designing it.

According to a new research report from Salesforce, the adoption of agentic AI, which are AI-powered agents capable of completing tasks autonomously, is projected to grow by a staggering 327% by 2027. This shift is set to revolutionize how work gets done, with nearly a quarter of the workforce expected to be redeployed to new roles as AI becomes a core part of how their organizations operate.

Far from being a story of disruption or displacement, the research offers a more optimistic and human-centered vision: one where digital labor enhances productivity, unlocks new career opportunities, and empowers HR leaders to build more resilient, agile, and inclusive organizations.

CHROs Step Up as Architects of the Human-AI Workforce

Salesforce surveyed 200 global HR executives and uncovered a bold new mindset among today’s Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs). A full 86% believe that integrating digital labor into their workforce will be a critical part of their job, and 80% anticipate that in just five years, most teams will be composed of both humans and AI agents working side by side.

These aren’t theoretical changes. CHROs are already acting:

• 89% say AI agents will enable them to reassign employees into more relevant roles, with 23% of their workforce expected to be redeployed.
• 81% are investing in reskilling programs, preparing employees for emerging roles that require a mix of technical literacy and human strengths.
• The result? A projected 30% boost in productivity and 19% reduction in labor costs – all while building a workforce that’s more future-ready

AI as a Catalyst for Human Potential

One of the most compelling insights from the report is how AI is prompting HR to double down on what makes us human. Three in four CHROs say soft skills such as relationship building, collaboration, and adaptability will become even more important as AI takes on more structured tasks.

HR leaders are planning to reassign employees into roles that emphasize human connection and creativity, such as partnership development, customer engagement, and cross-functional collaboration. The message is clear: digital labor isn’t replacing people, on the contrary, it’s freeing them to do more meaningful work.

Building the Skills that Matter in an Agentic Economy

As organizations begin their digital labor journey, one challenge looms large: AI literacy. CHROs cite it as the number one skill their employees need to thrive. Yet, 73% of workers still don’t understand how digital labor will impact their roles.

This presents both a challenge and a call to action for HR. To fully realize the promise of agentic AI, organizations need to invest in transparent communication, continuous learning, and inclusive change management strategies. Fortunately, HR is uniquely positioned to lead this charge by combining a deep understanding of people with a growing fluency in AI-powered tools.

Why Salesforce and Why Now?

While Salesforce may be best known for its CRM and sales tools, the company is emerging as a thought leader and technology partner in the evolving HR and digital workforce space. With its expertise in automation, AI, and enterprise applications, Salesforce is helping CHROs reimagine what’s possible – from intelligent workflow orchestration to employee experience platforms powered by generative AI. And Salesforce’s latest product offering, Agentforce for HR Service, builds on Salesforce’s HR Service offering to provide a new suite of agentic AI capabilities designed specifically for HR use cases. Agentforce for HR Service will empower employees to get personalized answers when and where they need them as well as tap digital labor for support with things like updating personal details, submitting and tracking expenses, managing time off requests, and much more.

Final Thoughts

This research paints an inspiring picture of the future: a world where AI doesn’t displace people but rather elevates them. Where reskilling isn’t a reaction to disruption, but a proactive investment in growth. And where HR doesn’t just support change, it defines the future and leads the change.

The human-AI workplace is coming. Thanks to the leadership of today’s CHROs and the innovations from partners like Salesforce, it’s shaping up to be one where work is better for everyone. We are excited to see this innovation in the HR technology market that can empower HR organizations and their teams to deliver world-class service while providing employees with a modern and easy to use user experience. We are looking forward to watching continued development and innovation in HR tech from Salesforce.

You can learn more about how Salesforce is driving the future of HR and the workplace here.