EY commits $100m to reward employees for skills AI cannot replace

Ernst & Young (EY) is investing $100 million in employee rewards as it seeks to recognise the skills and behaviours it believes will be critical in an increasingly AI-driven workplace.

The investment by EY US will reward professionals who develop future-focused skills, advance the firm's culture, drive innovation and deliver strong client outcomes. The programme also recognises employees who use advanced technologies to turn disruption into business opportunities, according to media reports.

The move signals a shift in how employers are defining value in an AI-enabled workplace, with capabilities such as business acumen, judgement, adaptability, critical thinking and innovation gaining greater prominence alongside technology adoption.

Three categories of employee rewards

EY's programme will operate across three award categories based on the scale and impact of an employee's contribution:

1. Everyday Leadership: Recognises employees who support learning, experimentation, collaboration and leadership.

2. Transformation with measurable results: Rewards contributions that drive meaningful change through innovation, technology, disruption or growth.

3. Game-changing enterprise impact: Recognises individuals or teams whose work creates significant and lasting impact for the firm.

“The pace and complexity of change in our industry require confident leadership,” said Dante D’Egidio, EY Americas CEO and US Managing Partner. “This significant investment reinforces our commitment to building the workforce of the future by recognizing the skills and behaviors needed to lead our profession and serve our clients with excellence.”

AI adoption alone is no longer the measure

The announcement comes as professional services firms reassess the skills employees need as AI takes over an increasing share of routine and technical work.

EY has previously argued that the future of productivity lies in human-AI augmentation, with capabilities including empathy, creativity and ethical judgement complementing intelligent machines.

The firm's latest approach therefore places greater emphasis on how employees use technology, rather than simply whether they use it. The reward structure is designed to recognise the combination of technology adoption, human judgement and measurable business impact.

The shift also comes as EY changes how it develops early-career talent. The firm has introduced a year-long Career Residency model for some interns, extending learning beyond the traditional internship and focusing on capabilities including judgement, critical thinking and communication.

Professional services firms rethink workforce skills

EY's move comes amid a broader shift across the professional services sector, where firms are placing greater emphasis on interpersonal and higher-order cognitive skills as AI automates more routine work.

Recent reports indicate that EY, KPMG and PwC are increasing their focus on capabilities such as empathy, storytelling, leadership, communication and critical thinking. Firms are also looking at how greater in-person interaction can help junior employees develop skills that are traditionally learned through observation, coaching and client exposure.

For HR leaders, the development points to a wider change in how organisations may approach performance management, rewards, learning and career progression. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday work, the differentiator may increasingly be employees' ability to apply judgement, collaborate, adapt and make effective decisions alongside technology.

EY's $100 million commitment puts a financial value on that shift, signalling that the next phase of AI adoption may be less about rewarding employees simply for using AI and more about rewarding them for using it well.