Unisys: 3 in 4 executives say workforce not sufficiently AI skilled

Six in ten executives think AI will be more impactful than the internet.

That’s according to new research from Unisys – the IT and consulting company surveyed 2,000 employees and executives from large companies in the UK, US, Germany and Australia.

Almost all (99%) of the 700 executives surveyed said that AI was a competitive priority for their company. Plus, 93% said they thought AI would be a permanent part of their organizational strategy for the future.

The good news is that employees are also on board.

While news headlines talk about fears of job replacement, Unisys’ data tells a different story.

Speaking exclusively to UNLEASH, Unisys’ Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Workplace Solutions Business Unit Patrycja Sobera: “Our research shows 71% of employees believe it enhanced job satisfaction and career growth, and 61% believe AI will lead to more job creation.”

The data further shows that 83% of employees have seen increased productivity from AI, with 44% of them using the time save through AI for their own professional development.

“It is our belief that AI is transforming the workplace positively”, adds Sobera.

Yes, it may be a “tool for driving innovation and growth”, as Sobera describes it, but there are still barriers stopping employees and companies from using AI to its full potential.

Unisy’s data found that only three in ten said their current AI adoption set them ahead of the competition. 54% said they were on par with their competitors with AI.

One issue identified in the report is that 34% made their last IT investments three or more years ago, so they do not have the right infrastructure.

Another is their choice of AI vendor – 64% of executives said most AI partners and solutions available to them are more hype than substance.

They are struggling to find vendors with a proven track record of success and that are well known and respected in the sector.

A final challenge is a shortage of AI skills in the organization. 69% of employees and 75% of executives agree that there are not enough people with the skills and experience to utilize AI effectively in their organization.

This begs that question, what actions must organizations, and specifically HR leaders, make now to switch the script on AI?

Chief AI Officers are key to AI success

Unisys’ data makes it very clear how important leadership is to the success of AI in business.

86% of those companies who employ a chief AI officer report significant time savings – this confirms arguments from brands like Avanade and Thoughtworks.

The report stated: “Developing a Chief AI Officer role can help position organizations to gain that competitive advantage that’s crucial to business success.”

This Chief AI Officer needs to then develop a comprehensive AI strategy, which includes upskilling and reskilling employees.

Sobera tells UNLEASH: “HR leaders need to embrace AI as a strategic tool for enhancing the employee experience and productivity.

This means investing in AI training programs to equip employees with the necessary skills, integrating AI to automate routine tasks and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.”

By doing this, AI becomes a catalyst not just for career growth, but also job satisfaction (which has obvious business benefits).