Employees embrace AI but HR must lead upskilling – Indeed survey
TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Nearly 90% of employees believe they can adapt to artificial intelligence (AI) in their work environments, reveals a recent survey by Indeed. Despite the widespread optimism, about half (48%) of the workforce still fears job displacement due to AI advancements.
In the United States, confidence in adapting to AI is particularly high, with 92% of respondents feeling optimistic about their ability to adjust. In contrast, the French are less excited (13%), though a majority still feel prepared (29%) and capable (26%).
HR’s crucial role in upskilling for AI
Danny Stacy, Indeed’s Head of Talent Intelligence, provided insights from the survey, which encompassed views from 16,000 employees, HR leaders, and managers.
Stacy emphasized the importance of upskilling and reskilling employees to navigate the changes brought by AI.
While AI excels in data analysis and routine tasks, the survey found that humans have an edge in emotional intelligence (56%), decision-making (33%), and critical thinking (41%).
“HR leaders would be wise to ensure that employees can hone their abilities in skills they believe humans have the upper hand in, such as critical thinking and decision-making,” she told UNLEASH.
“Focusing training efforts on these areas will help ensure workers are ready for their role to evolve, as AI takes on more repetitive tasks.”
Almost half of the employees surveyed expect employers to take responsibility for developing their skills, with this figure rising to 59% in the United Kingdom.
Workforce lacks skills for AI productivity gains
Executives are betting big on AI to drive productivity, but the workforce skills gap threatens that vision, according to Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends Study.
Three-quarters (74%) of executives worry about their talent’s ability to pivot, and only 28% of HR leaders are confident they can make human-machine collaboration a success.
Meanwhile, a CEO survey by edX and Workplace Intelligence revealed that 47% of the workforce is unprepared for an AI-driven future, while talent and technology solutions provider Harvey Nash said that a majority of global tech leaders feel unready to meet the demands of advanced AI systems.
An Avanade survey found that 48% of companies have implemented policies to ensure responsible AI use, and under half of employees fully trust risk management processes regarding enterprise-wide AI adoption.
With 23% of roles anticipated to change in the next five years, the World Economic Forum warns that the real risk is between those who adapt and those who don’t, as AI-empowered employees are set to become significantly more productive.
