According to GoodHabitz’s latest findings, one in five UK employees (19%), or 6.31 million1 people, has not received any training on how to use AI effectively. This is according to a leading provider of online learning with a focus on improving human skills.
The research conducted by Censuswide exposes this disconnect: While 70% of UK employees already use AI in their jobs, more than a third (34%) confess that they lack the soft and human skills necessary to effectively work with these tools.
Chris Chen, Chief Tech Officer at GoodHabitz says: “The research indicates that we’re in a very tough situation right now.” “AI will change the way we think and work, but many of our employees are not ready. It’s not only about knowing how AI tools work. We must focus on skills that will make the pairing of AI and humans truly impactful. These include effective communication, emotional understanding, complex problem analysis, and seamless integration in team workflows. “If we don’t train our workforce quickly, UK companies may struggle to keep pace with the rest.”
Ed Monk (CEO of the Learning and Performance Institute, LPI) comments: “This research should be a wake-up for UK businesses.” AI can enhance productivity but it will not be realized without the right skills.
Monk says, “We must ensure that all employees, no matter what their role is, are equipped with the skills they need to not only use AI tools, but also to complement them with human abilities like critical thinking and adaptationability.” To remain competitive on the global market, it is important to invest in both human-centered skills and AI literacy.
The research highlights the importance of a national initiative to upskill:
AI is a factor that has increased the demand for certain skills in 48% of the workforce. Problem-solving (39%), analytical thinking (37%), and critical thinking (38%) are the three most important.
AI is a powerful technology that can transform the workplace. 66% of respondents say AI has allowed them to accomplish tasks they could not do before.
Employees who use AI on average save 37 minutes a day, which is equivalent to 150 hours a year.
Chen continues, “We have a lot of work ahead of us but this is also a chance to move forward.” “UK companies must start training their employees with AI familiarity now. Businesses that are proactive will be at a huge advantage when AI becomes omnipresent.
GoodHabitz tackles this challenge with its AI-enhanced platform that uses self-assessments and generates personalised recommendations for training employees tailored to their specific needs.
Other key findings include
68 % of employees believe they possess some AI skills, but there are still significant gaps.
47% of respondents still prefer to use their own skills over AI tools. This shows a need for more AI literacy and confidence.
62% of respondents say that AI has improved their job satisfaction.
The first time this post appeared was on HR News.
