24 Seven's "Future of Work" Report Finds Talent Strategies Struggling to Keep Pace as AI Raises the Value of Human Expertise

Research shows 46% of professionals say their organization's talent strategy is lagging behind or isn't clearly defined

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 24 Seven, one of the nation's largest privately held marketing, creative, and digital talent solutions firms, today released The Future of Work Is More Human: How AI Is Raising the Bar for Talent Strategy Across Creative, Marketing, and Technology. The report reveals a growing challenge for businesses: AI is transforming how work gets done, but many organizations' approaches to finding and deploying talent are struggling to keep pace.

Based on a survey of more than 2,000 professionals across marketing, creative, technology, beauty, fashion, and retail, the report finds that AI is raising the value of human judgment, creative originality, and specialized expertise. Yet nearly half of respondents (46%) say their organization's talent strategy is falling behind or isn't clearly defined.

Some additional key findings include:

• 41% of respondents say AI is reshaping the kinds of talent their organizations need.
• Applying judgment to AI-generated work ranks as the leading differentiator of high performers in an AI-enabled workplace.
• A lack of specialized expertise was cited as the biggest obstacle to moving quickly when new priorities emerge.
• Creative originality ranks as the human capability growing most in importance as AI becomes more embedded in work.

"While AI can help a team produce more, skilled professionals bring the expertise, critical thinking, and judgment to turn that output into better decisions, stronger ideas, and real business results," said Anthony Donnarumma, CEO of 24 Seven. "That makes talent strategy central to getting meaningful value from AI. Leaders need to understand how the work is changing, which capabilities their teams are missing, and how to bring the right expertise into the business quickly."

The findings point to a vital distinction for workforce planning: having enough people and having the right expertise are separate challenges. Adding headcount alone may leave critical skills gaps unresolved, while teams with strong strategic capabilities may still lack enough support to execute.

The report examines how blended talent models can address both needs by combining core full-time teams with contractors, consultants, embedded teams, agencies, and managed services. It also finds that expectations for talent solutions partners are evolving, with depth of specialization ranking as their most valued attribute.

Alongside the survey findings, futurists Kelly Monahan, Natalie Nixon, and Valerie Jacobs explore how leaders can better define AI skills, strengthen creativity, and build trust through change. Insights from top marketing leaders, gathered through Marketers That Matter®, a 24 Seven subsidiary, offer practical perspectives on the skills, systems, and AI applications shaping the future of work.

The full report, including survey findings, expert perspectives, and guidance for building a future-ready talent strategy, is available at 24seventalent.com.

About 24 Seven
24 Seven partners with companies to get marketing, creative, and digital work done by providing the right talent, innovation, and insights. The company drives meaningful impact by helping clients navigate change in today's evolving environment. Through its family of brands, including The Sage Group, SketchDeck, Simplicity Consulting, The Cydio Group, Marketers That Matter®, CORE Resources, MTP, Futureman, Markacy, Crawford Group, and SRI, 24 Seven provides comprehensive talent solutions that enable organizations to achieve their business objectives.

Contact
Kristin Valentine, Chief Marketing Officer
Phone: 510-599-8438
[email protected]

SOURCE 24 Seven LLC