The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In 2025, CEO outlook surveys pointed to a combination of growth ambitions and practical caution: PwC respondents were optimistic about global growth and hiring, while KPMG and Deloitte findings emphasized AI investment, execution challenges and resilience. These were different surveys, taken at different times and of different groups—not one unified forecast.
What did CEOs expect from the economy and their businesses?
PwC: growth and hiring expectations
PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey, published January 20, 2025, found that 58% of respondents expected global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months. The survey also found that 42% expected to increase headcount by at least 5%, while 17% expected to reduce it. These were expectations recorded in responses collected October 1–November 8, 2024—not observed economic results. PwC’s survey overview describes the findings; its 2025 survey results provide further detail.
KPMG: confidence in the global economy versus company earnings
KPMG’s later 2025 survey found global economic confidence at 68%, its lowest level in five years and down from 72% a year earlier. Yet 61% of respondents expected their own organization’s earnings to increase by at least 2.5% over the next three years. Confidence in the broader economy and expectations for one’s own company are different measures, so these findings can coexist. KPMG surveyed 1,350 CEOs at companies with annual revenue above US$500 million, across 11 markets and 12 sectors, from August 5–September 10, 2025. See KPMG’s 2025 Global CEO Outlook.
Deloitte: a narrower US-heavy snapshot
In its Fall 2025 survey, Deloitte described renewed optimism after tariff-related uncertainty, alongside attention to cost reductions, pricing decisions and resilient supply chains. The survey covered 69 CEOs across 19 industries, fielded October 3–16, 2025; 71% represented US-based organizations. Its results are useful as a snapshot of those respondents, not as a global estimate. Deloitte’s Fortune/Deloitte survey gives its findings.
#1 Best Overall
What did the surveys say about AI investment and returns?
Reported benefits are not the same as investment plans
PwC reported that 56% of CEOs saw generative AI efficiency gains in employees’ use of time; 32% reported increased revenue and 34% increased profitability. Almost half prioritized integrating AI into technology platforms and workflows over the next three years. These are separate reported outcomes and plans, not evidence that AI caused broad productivity growth or a general employment shift. PwC’s 2025 survey results detail the measures.
KPMG: investment priority, expected ROI and constraints
KPMG found that 71% named AI a top investment priority and 67% expected a return on investment within one to three years. Respondents also identified ethical challenges (59%), data readiness (52%) and lack of regulation (50%) as concerns. The ROI figure is an expectation, not a measured return already achieved.
Deloitte: where CEOs expect AI to matter
Deloitte respondents expected AI to affect core processes and resource allocation, talent strategy, and long-term vision. In that survey, 84% measured AI impact through cost savings and operational efficiency, while 69% said they were establishing clear AI usage policies. Those results reflect a 69-person survey and use measures that differ from PwC’s and KPMG’s.
Why reinvention and workforce readiness mattered
Reinvention as an executive concern
In PwC’s survey, 42% of CEOs believed their company would not remain viable beyond ten years if it continued on its current path. This is executives’ assessment, not an independently verified prediction of company survival. PwC also found that 38% said their company had begun competing in at least one new sector over the preceding five years; average revenue from distinct new businesses added over that period was 7%.
PwC Global Chairman Mohamed Kande said: “This year’s CEO Survey findings highlight a stark juxtaposition – business leaders around the world are optimistic about the year ahead, but also know they must re-invent how they create, deliver and capture value.” The statement appeared in PwC’s February 11, 2025 release. Read PwC’s release.
Preparing employees for AI-related change
KPMG found that 77% believed workforce AI readiness and upskilling would affect prosperity over the next three years, and 70% said competition for AI talent could constrain success. Together with reported concerns about data readiness and AI governance, these findings show why investment alone does not describe how prepared an organization is to use the technology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare CEO outlook surveys responsibly
Survey results can suggest recurring themes, but percentages should not be combined or ranked as if the firms asked the same questions of the same population. Check what each figure measures, when the survey was taken and whom it covered.
| Survey | Field period and sample | Useful context |
|---|---|---|
| PwC 28th Annual Global CEO Survey | October 1–November 8, 2024; 4,701 CEOs across 109 countries and territories | Published January 20, 2025. Includes expectations about the next 12 months and reported AI experiences. |
| KPMG 2025 Global CEO Outlook | August 5–September 10, 2025; 1,350 CEOs across 11 markets and 12 sectors | Respondents led companies with annual revenue above US$500 million. Includes three-year expectations about earnings and AI returns. |
| Fortune/Deloitte Fall 2025 survey | October 3–16, 2025; 69 CEOs across 19 industries, 71% from US-based organizations | A small, US-heavy sample; findings should not be treated as a globally representative estimate. |
All three are consultancy surveys of respondents’ opinions, expectations or reported experiences. They are not censuses of CEOs, measured economic outcomes or proof that a particular factor caused a business result. Differences may reflect survey timing as well as question wording, sample composition and time horizon.
Best Value
What changed in the next year’s outlook?
The 2025 findings are a dated snapshot, not a description of today’s CEO sentiment. PwC’s 2026 survey reported that 30% of respondents were very or extremely confident about revenue growth over the next 12 months, down from 38% in its 2025 survey. It also found that 56% reported neither higher revenue nor lower costs from AI. PwC framed a central question as: “are we transforming our business fast enough to keep up with technology, including AI?” Attribute those figures and that question to PwC’s 2026 survey, rather than applying them to the 2025 reports. PwC’s CEO survey page provides current survey context.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
