A new study shows that tech CEOs are optimistic about the future, even if they still don't understand millennials

tim cook apple logo

Tech industry CEOs are bullish on the future of their companies, the sector, and artificial intelligence.

But they're worried about the spread of nationalism, cybersecurity — and millennials.

Those are some of the key takeaways from a new report by KPMG. After surveying more than 1,000 CEOs from all different sectors and from around the globe, the company zeroed in on the responses of 104 from the tech industry.

Compared with their non-tech peers, tech CEOs were more optimistic about their firms' prospects. But they were equally worried about the turn away from globalization and dealing with younger customers.

Here are some of the report's key findings.

Tech CEOs are bullish about their companies' growth prospects.

Some 88% of tech CEOs surveyed by KPMG said they were confident in their growth potential for their companies over the next three years. More than half — 52%, to be precise — said they expected their companies to grow by at least 2% a year over that time period.

That's more optimistic than CEOs as a whole. Overall, 44% of CEOs said they expected their firms to grow 2% annually over the next three years.

In fact, many expect to boost their headcount significantly in coming years.

Some 44% of tech CEOs expect to increase their employee base by at least 6% over the next three years, and 2% expect to increase it by at least 11%.

Again, tech leaders were more bullish than their peers. Overall, just 37% of CEOs from all industries expect to increase their headcount by at least 6% over that time period.