Upskilling for AI: Have you prepared employees for changes?

When it comes to upskilling for AI, have you helped employees adapt to changes at work? 

Younger generations are also much more likely to expect AI to impact their careers across all of the surveyed impacts, both positive and negative, whereas a little over one-third (34%) of Baby Boomers think AI will not impact their careers, only 14% of Gen Z and 17% of Millennials agree, according to PwC’s 2023 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey.

The survey collected responses from nearly 54,000 workers in 46 countries and territories, according to PwC.

More than half (52%) of employees globally expect to see some positive impact of AI on their career over the next five years, with nearly a third (31%) saying it’ll increase their productivity/efficiency at work, the firm pointed out. 

In addition, many workers view AI as an opportunity to learn new skills (27%), PwC added.  

Cash-strapped workers less likely to access training and upskilling for AI
However, workers struggling financially are less able to meet the challenges of the future including upskilling for AI, PwC pointed out. 

Compared to workers who can pay their bills comfortably, those who struggle or cannot pay their bills are 12 percentage points less likely to say they are actively seeking out opportunities to develop new skills (62% vs. 50%), survey results indicate. 

Similarly, those workers who are more financially secure are more likely to seek feedback at work and use it to improve their performance (57%) than those who are struggling financially (45%), PwC said. 

Survey highlights

• More than one-third (37%) of workers doing better financially say AI will improve their productivity versus those workers not doing well financially (24%). 
• Those workers doing better financially also think AI will create new job opportunities (24% vs. 19%). They are less likely to think it will change the nature of their work in a negative way (13% vs. 18%). 
• In contrast, skilled workers are facing a rapidly changing economic and workplace environment with greater confidence. 
• Workers who said their job requires specialised skills are more likely to anticipate change ahead. 
• More than half (51%) say the skills their job requires will change significantly in the next five years, compared to just 15% for employees who don’t have specialised training. 
• Around two-thirds are confident their employer will help them develop the digital, analytical and collaboration skills they will need. 
• These numbers fall to below half for those who do not currently work in jobs that require specialist training. 
• More than one-third (35%) of workers with specialist skills moderately or strongly agree that they have missed out on work opportunities because they don’t know the right people.
• Meanwhile, more than one-third (35%) of workers say they have skills that are not apparent from their CV or job histories, indicating companies may be overlooking talent within the ranks.