Was Keynes Right? How AI Could Finally Deliver the 15-Hour Workweek

In 1930, economist John Maynard Keynes made a bold prediction: By 2030, technological progress would allow his grandchildren to work just 15 hours a week. We’re not quite there yet with only five years to go. But could artificial intelligence (AI) be a missing piece?

Keynes’ vision of a dramatically shorter workweek hasn’t fully materialized, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t made progress. While the 15-hour week remains elusive, the way we work has evolved significantly over the past century.

What’s This About a Shorter Workweek?

Over the past 95 years, automation and technology have revolutionized productivity. Yet the 40-hour workweek remains the norm. Why?

The truth is, we are working less, just not as dramatically less as Keynes envisioned.

According to Our World in Data, the average working hours have declined significantly since the early 20th century. Back then, many industrialized workers clocked 50–60 hours per week. Labor protections, economic shifts, and technological advances have all contributed to the gradual, but significant reduction. Today, per The Atlantic’s “The Myth That Americans Are Busier Than Ever,” everyone is working less, including those laboring in an office, a shop, and even the home.

Source: Our World in Data

Could AI Be the Tipping Point?

AI is rapidly transforming how we work, especially in knowledge-intensive fields like finance. Here are three ways that AI is accelerating productivity:

1. Automating Repetitive Tasks

AI excels at handling routine work — data entry, reconciliation, and reporting — freeing up time for strategic thinking. For example, OneStream’s SensibleAI™ Forecast reduces manual effort while dramatically improving forecasting accuracy.

2. Accelerating Decision-Making

AI-powered dashboards analyze data in real time, surfacing insights instantly. Through access to these dashboards, decision cycles are shortened from days to minutes — enabling faster, smarter choices.

3. Empowering Talent

AI doesn’t just replace tasks — it augments human capabilities. According to the CFA Institute’s 2025 Graduate Outlook Survey, Gen Z expects AI to be part of their workflow and values employers who invest in AI training.

The Four-Day Workweek: A Realistic Step Forward

While a 15-hour week may still be aspirational, the four-day workweek is gaining traction. For example, over 60 companies in the UK trialed a four-day workweek with no loss in pay. Most reported increased productivity and higher employee satisfaction. In fact, the report notes, “When compared to a similar period from previous years, organizations reported revenue increases of 35% on average.” Not bad.

Similar pilots in Australia, Germany, Japan, and Belgium show that reducing hours doesn’t mean reducing output.

Collectively, these experiments suggest that working less can actually mean working better — especially when paired with the right tools.

Gen Z Won’t Settle for the Status Quo

While older generations may be skeptical of shorter workweeks, Gen Z is entering the workforce with a different mindset. One that also brings new expectations.

This generation values flexibility, purpose, and efficiency. As digital natives, Gen Z expects employers to embrace AI and automation — not just as tools, but as integral parts of the workflow.

OneStream’s recent study on the AI talent shortage in finance reinforces this trend. For instance, the study found that 89% of finance students feel confident in their ability to use AI in future roles. Just 54% of professionals with over a decade of experience feel the same. This generational divide highlights a growing readiness gap and a clear opportunity for organizations to invest in upskilling their current teams.

The study also revealed that nearly 8 in 10 chief financial officers (CFOs) see skills gaps as a significant barrier to performance. Yet 72% cite legacy systems as a hindrance. Gen Z’s comfort with AI could help bridge this gap if companies are willing to meet them halfway.

In short, Gen Z isn’t just ready for AI. They’re expecting it. And they may be the key to finally realizing Keynes’ vision of a radically shorter workweek. Among students looking to have careers in finance, nearly four in five (79%) expect to work fewer than 40 hours per week. Those expectations are laying the foundation for what might be a new 32-hour workweek.

Conclusion

John Maynard Keynes may have been off on the timeline, but not on the trajectory. The 15-hour workweek isn’t just a utopian dream. It’s also a challenge to rethink how we define productivity, value, and time. With AI accelerating how we work, empowering talent, and reshaping expectations, we’re closer than ever to realizing a more balanced, fulfilling work life.

Gen Z is already demanding it. The tools are here. The data supports it. That leaves just one question: Will today’s leaders rise to the occasion?

If you’re a finance leader ready to take the first step, download our free eBook: CFO Guide: 5 Steps to Getting Started with AI. It’s packed with practical insights to help you harness AI, close the talent gap, and lead your team into the future of work.