Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to infiltrate the workplace, whether for administrative tasks, creative ideation, collaboration or industry-specific work. However, companies are still navigating how to effectively and ethically implement AI as they work to understand how the technology will impact their business.
A new report from DeVry University, Closing the Gap Upskilling and Reskilling in an AI Era, based on a survey of U.S. workers and employers, found that today’s workers are using AI regularly, but employers may be missing the mark when it comes to training them on proper AI usage at work. To maximize their investment in AI tools and improve employee productivity and skillsets, employers have an opportunity to activate more intentional AI training programs for their workforce. Doing so will help minimize risks associated with unguided adoption, keep pace with technological shifts and advance employees’ careers.
Employers underestimate the AI skills of workers, but are missing the moment for robust training
The survey revealed that there is an increased appetite for learning and development amongst employees, and that they face fewer barriers preventing them from ongoing upskilling. Employees are also energized by AI’s potential impact on their careers, with 48% of workers wanting to reskill into a more AI-focused role and 75% of workers feeling confident that they know what AI can do for them at work.
However, workers and employers are not on the same page about AI proficiency. According to the study, workers and employers have different perceptions of how skilled employees are when it comes to using AI in the workplace. Employers estimate that 32% of their workers are merely novices at AI, but only 3% of workers describe themselves as being at this low level of skill. In addition, more than half of employees surveyed say they regularly use AI tools, but employers estimate that figure to be closer to 40%.
And even though employers are less confident in the AI skill sets of their employees, they have not been able to fully activate effective and comprehensive upskilling and reskilling. While over half (58%) of employers feel they hold responsibility for upskilling their employees in AI, 42% believe that their organization does not know how to effectively train their workforce on the technology. This, coupled with the fact that 72% of employers say they are not training allworkers on AI, could stagnate skill growth across organizations and therefore, advancement of organizational missions, goals and results. While many organizations are excited about the quantum leaps they feel AI can provide, most will forego those without curating a properly skilled workforce.
Employers have found practical HR uses for AI
Despite these findings, many HR teams have found practical and valuable ways to leverage AI for their day-to-day work. The majority of (68%) employers say they are already using AI to aid their hiring processes and evaluate job applications. Employers are also using AI to analyze worker performance, identify skill gaps and personalize employee communications. These promising statistics demonstrate a level of expertise with AI amongst HR professionals and offer practical guidance on the ways AI, and the insights gleaned from it, can positively impact workforce management and business at large. The next step is to bridge the gap with upskilling in AI across employees and business functions, so that all employees can reap the benefits.
AI is here to stay as a tool for productivity, advancement and development. Organizations that dedicate time and resources to upskilling and reskilling talent, and implementing ethical guardrails for AI usage, are more likely to retain workers and see positive impacts. Despite the gaps in perception of AI, most workers and employers agree that everyone needs upskilling or reskilling to keep up with technology, advance organizational performance, and get ahead in their careers.