A significant survey of the UK workforce has revealed growing anxiety about artificial intelligence, with more than a quarter of British workers expressing fears that their jobs could be replaced by automation within the next five years. This concern highlights a widening gap between how employers and employees perceive the impact of this rapidly evolving technology on careers and job security.
The AI Investment Surge and Worker Anxiety
According to the comprehensive annual review conducted by the international recruitment firm Randstad, which polled 27,000 workers and 1,225 organisations across 35 countries, two-thirds of UK employers reported having invested in AI over the past year. This substantial corporate push towards automation contrasts sharply with the views of employees, with more than half noting that companies are increasingly encouraging the use of AI tools in their daily work.
The data points to what Randstad describes as "mismatched AI expectations" between management and staff. Just under half of the UK office workers surveyed believe that artificial intelligence will benefit companies far more than individual employees, creating a perception gap that could undermine workplace morale and trust.
Generational Divide in AI Concerns
The survey uncovered a notable generational split in attitudes towards workplace automation. Younger workers, particularly those from Generation Z who were born between 1997 and 2012, demonstrated the highest levels of concern about AI's impact and their ability to adapt to technological changes. This anxiety among new entrants to the job market may stem from business leaders' growing preference for investing in AI to address skills shortages through automation rather than focusing on training and developing new hires.
In contrast, baby boomers – those born in the postwar years between 1946 and 1964 who are approaching the end of their careers – displayed greater confidence and self-assurance regarding AI's workplace implications. This generational disparity adds another layer of complexity to the challenges facing younger workers, particularly as the labour market shows signs of cooling.
Productivity Gains and Role Transformation
Despite these concerns, the survey indicates that AI adoption is already delivering measurable benefits. Approximately 55% of UK workers reported that artificial intelligence has made a positive impact on their productivity, a sentiment that employers largely echo. The research suggests that increased implementation of AI and automation is primarily replacing "low-complexity, transactional roles" within businesses, which could help address persistent labour shortages in certain industries by boosting overall efficiency and output.
Sander van 't Noordende, Chief Executive of Randstad, emphasised the need to reframe how we view workplace technology: "AI is not a rival to labour; it should be seen as key to augmenting tasks and highlighting the importance of roles that only people can do." He further warned about the dangers of the "AI reality gap", noting that while businesses race to embrace new ways of working, many employees remain sceptical about the technology's impact on their roles.
Global Implications and Skills Transformation
The accelerating pace of AI adoption is having profound effects on workers worldwide. The Randstad survey found that four in five employees believe artificial intelligence will affect their daily work tasks, reflecting the technology's expanding reach across different sectors and professions. Perhaps most strikingly, job vacancies requiring specific "AI agent" skills have skyrocketed by an astonishing 1,587% over the past year alone, indicating how rapidly employer demands are evolving.
This transformation has captured the attention of business leaders globally. Jamie Dimon, the prominent CEO of US banking giant JP Morgan, recently told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos that both governments and businesses will need to intervene to support workers whose roles become displaced by advancing technology. Dimon warned that failure to address these workforce transitions adequately could potentially lead to "civil unrest", underscoring the social and economic significance of managing AI's integration into the workplace responsibly.
The survey results present a complex picture of technological change, where productivity gains and labour market efficiencies must be balanced against genuine worker concerns about job security and career development. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the nature of work, bridging the expectation gap between employers and employees will become increasingly crucial for maintaining workforce stability and ensuring that technological progress benefits all stakeholders in the UK economy.
