The report shows that despite AI’s increasing presence at work, there is a gap in training. This includes the skills required for effective AI collaboration.
This research was conducted in partnership by Censuswide. It shows that 70 percent of UK workers are already using AI to enhance their jobs, but over one third (34%) admits they lack the soft skills necessary to maximize AI’s capabilities. Communication, problem-solving and critical thinking are among the skills that are needed to integrate AI into everyday workflows.
Chris Chen, Chief Tech Officer at GoodHabitz warned about the dangers of this skills gap. “AI is changing how we think and work, but most people aren’t prepared for it.” It’s more than just knowing how to use AI software. “We need to focus on skills that will make the human-AI pairing truly impactful.”
AI Integration is hindered by a shortage of skills
The report shows a disconnect between AI’s growing usage and the employees’ ability leverage it effectively. AI has allowed workers to do tasks previously out of their reach. 66 percent of respondents reported increased productivity. However, a large portion of the workforce feels unprepared for this transition. Many workers do not have the analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills necessary to seamlessly integrate AI.
AI has already improved the efficiency of work, saving employees on average 37 minutes per day. This amounts to more than 150 hours per year per employee. Nearly half of employees (47%) still prefer to use their own abilities over AI tools. This indicates a need for more training and confidence building measures.
The report states that 48 percent of employees believe AI has increased the demand for critical skills, such as problem solving (39%) and analytical thinking (37%). These findings highlight the importance of providing employees with the skills they need to succeed in a work environment driven by AI.
AI Benefits and Human Skills Development
Many employees are aware of the benefits AI can bring to their jobs, despite the concern over the shortage of skills. A large majority of employees (62%) reported that AI had improved their job satisfaction. This suggests the potential for AI integration to positively impact engagement and retention. These benefits are only fully realized if companies invest in both AI-related soft skills and AI-related technical skill sets.
Chen stressed the urgency of action and noted that UK companies may face difficulties in maintaining their competitive edge if they do not upskill. He said that if UK companies don’t take action to upskill their workforce quickly, they will have difficulty keeping up with the rest.
In a separate study, released by CYPHER Learning in September, workers’ attitudes toward AI were very diverse. Employees surveyed expressed their desire to ban AI in the workplace. 25 percent confessed to using AI on their own without consulting supervisors. The study revealed that 69 per cent of employees wanted clearer policies and guidelines regarding AI at work.
