Today, 70% of workers globally are already using generative AI at work, but only 7% expect AI to make their jobs obsolete, according to a new report by The Adecco Group.
It also found a majority of workers also have a positive outlook on AI, though less than half received training on it from their employers. Workers have these outlooks despite other research pointing to large numbers of jobs being affected; Adecco cited this information in its report.
“The world of work is shifting from a jobs-based to a skills-based economy, and this shift is being accelerated by the rapid adoption of Generative AI,” Adecco CEO Denis Machuel said in a press release announcing the report.
Adecco’s Global Workforce of the Future Report 2023 surveyed more than 30,000 workers from 25 industries across 23 countries, including the US and Mexico.
But even as generative AI becomes more prevalent, access to training is unequal, it noted.
Just 46% of workers are receiving guidance on generative AI from their employers. Managers were also more likely to receive training on AI than nonmanagers. However, 57% of workers overall expressed interest in training in generative AI.
Adecco’s research also found that 62% of workers have a positive outlook on the effect of AI on their job and only 24% expect it to have a negative impact. In fact, 60% expect AI to save them time and 59% expect AI to reduce repetitive tasks. Still, the report cited research by Goldman Sachs that more than 300 million jobs worldwide will be disrupted by AI in some way. To bridge the gap, companies must put upskilling measures in place, the Adecco report said.
Workers in the life sciences industry were most positive about AI, with 75% saying it would impact their jobs positively, according to Adecco. Those in the transportation industry were least positive with only 48% upbeat about AI.
And while 70% of workers currently use AI, 11% don’t know what it is.
Among those who were using it, the top reasons to use generative AI at work were to find information quickly, save time on basic/routine tasks and summarize information quickly.
Use of AI also varied by country with 86% percent of workers in Australia saying they currently use generative AI at work. On the other end of the spectrum, only 51% of workers in Finland said the same. In the US, the percentage was 74%.
“This year’s report uncovered substantial gaps in access to [generative AI] training and guidance despite widespread use and highlighted the urgent need for organizations to embrace technology transformation, boost career mobility, enhance worker skills and capabilities, and protect employee wellbeing,” Machuel said. “In a world being disrupted by technology, talent remains a true competitive advantage; the companies that focus on their people are most likely to ensure the future-readiness of their organizations.”