A third (34 percent) of employees around the globe feel artificial intelligence (AI) will have a positive impact on their role and the vast majority, 89 percent, feel confident about adapting to the changes coming over the next five years.
This was the finding of a global survey of 16,000 workers, which included more than 2,250 from the UK, detailed in the ‘Future of Work’ report’ from recruitment platform Indeed.
It revealed that nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of British employees say the skills needed for their job will change in the next five years as AI gains greater traction at work.
As many as 15 percent of workers expect significant changes, according to the report.
Two fifths (40 percent) of workers feel ‘capable’ of dealing with how their role will develop, 27 percent say they feel ‘prepared’, and a quarter say they are ‘excited’ about future changes.
However, the report also found that 27 percent of employees feel ‘cautious’ and one in four don’t feel prepared to adapt. Nearly three in five (58 percent) expressed greater concerns believing that more jobs will be lost to AI than created compared to just 13 percent that think the opposite.
Ripe for automation
Three in five said that AI can carry out data analysis better than humans and 48 percent believe the same is true for routine tasks, while 45 percent think AI offers improved attention to detail.
Unsurprisingly, skilled tradespeople are the group least likely to be replaced by AI, according to 58 percent of UK respondents.
There is a caveat to all the positivity around automation. Survey respondents were clear that humans outperform automation when it comes to creativity and critical thinking. For example, respondents scored human ability as higher than AI in customer service, critical thinking, decision-making and content creation. And workers say humans completely outpace AI when it comes to emotional intelligence.
Professional development
Employees told the survey they want their employers help to upskill, with 59 percent of workers putting the main responsibility on employers to develop these skills in their workforce. Interestingly, 17 percent said it is the responsibility of the individual and 7 percent said the government should take the lead.
Danny Stacy, UK head of talent intelligence at Indeed, said: “It’s natural for workers to feel that AI will change their role, particularly as we’re yet to fully realise AI’s impact on the workplace. But UK employees are confident they can adapt and are generally more optimistic about the effects of technology on their jobs than they are sceptical, showing that they’re up for any change that comes their way.
“Employers must continue to ensure that their workforce is ready to deal with this shift, which can be done with training and upskilling, especially on technical aspects of job roles and through learning on how to work alongside automation. Businesses must understand and implement the learning methods most valued by employees, as there is some misalignment in what workers are receiving and what they feel is useful.
“Alongside training, employers must also ensure employees feel valued for their skills which cannot be carried out by technology, such as creativity and decision-making. This approach will help to create an environment where workers can feel excited by changes in their jobs and not uncomfortable.”
