Workers expect more around AI upskilling

Skills are top of mind for employees – 96% of 3,000 workers in the US, the UK, Canada and Germany told Visier that developing new skills at work was important.

65% strongly agreed with this statement, and almost nine in ten said the ability to earn more directly related to their prioritization of skills growth and development.

Visier’s report found that employees are divided on what skills they need to develop – 39% talked about communication and team work, while 38% said leadership skills, 35% noted creative thinking, while 47% said technical skills.

68% specifically picked out the importance of learning AI skills, because of the huge impact on their career growth.

Despite this, there is a gap between employees’ and executives’ attitudes towards AI, particularly the newest iteration, generative AI.

While 80% of business owners and C-Suite executives have used generative AI at work, or spent time learning how to use it, the same is true for just 27% of entry level workers and 43% of middle managers.

How to do upskilling right

Visier’s report found that it is the responsibility of employers – and especially HR – to step up and implement upskilling, both around AI and beyond.

Employees are making it clear that they expect organizations to take the lead on upskilling and development – employers that fail to do this are opening themselves up to significant risks.

57% told Visier they want to turn to employer-led learning and development, and if it isn’t available, then that leads to resentment.

49% told Visier that they feel disengaged at work due to a lack of skills development and training – there is a long established link between attrition and a lack of development opportunities.

While this employer-led focus on upskilling is important across a range of different skills – technical and more creative – there is a particular need to be thoughtful around learning and development around AI.

HR leaders really need to dial in and “understand that there is a significant [AI] knowledge gap, and bridge this gap through comprehensive training programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives”, noted the report. 

Visier’s UK managing director Ben Harris shares exclusively with UNLEASH: “The AI revolution is changing the way we work, and naturally, many of us question how it will affect our jobs.

“To neutralize worry in the workplace, leaders must prioritize AI skills training to support employees’ future career growth.

“This starts with fostering a supportive culture, like encouraging employees to ask questions on how the organization plans to implement AI, and educating them on its benefits.

“Transparency is key here and will help business leaders position AI adoption as human centric, rather than a technology take over.

Organizations need to “reassure each employee that it will be implemented to plug existing skills gaps, rather than a direct replacement for the work that they do”, concludes Harris.