[UK] Only a quarter of workers believe their job is safe from AI

New research suggests that anxiety over job security is on the rise in the UK as employers increasingly adopt AI to automate processes and improve efficiency, People Management reports.

In its new survey, ADP found that only a quarter of UK workers were confident that their jobs would not be eliminated by AI. The percentage was lower globally, with 22 per cent of respondents believing they were secure in their current job. 

Those holding the most senior roles were reportedly the least affected by feelings of job insecurity: more than a third (35 per cent) of C-suite executives were confident their job was safe, 23 per cent of middle management and 18 per cent of individual contributors felt safe. 

Respondents working in repetitive roles had particularly acute concern around job security, with just 16 per cent feeling confident that their job would be safe. In contrast, 30 per cent of knowledge workers stated that they felt their role was unthreatened by AI. 

Dr. Nela Richardson - chief economist and ESG officer at ADP - said, “Advances in AI, changing demographics and economic uncertainty have set the labour market on an uncharted path and given rise to new challenges.” 

Higher levels of insecurity were also reportedly found to be impacting employee engagement and productivity, as workers direct more time and energy to finding alternative employment.

According to ADP’s findings, those who felt safe in their job were six times more likely to be fully engaged, motivated and committed, and were three times more likely to say they were highly productive. 

“Our data reveals a high level of worker unease and job insecurity, which inevitably affects not just work, but also life outside of work,” Dr. Richardson said. 

Source: People Management

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

New research suggests that anxiety over job security is on the rise in the UK as employers increasingly adopt AI to automate processes and improve efficiency, People Management reports.

In its new survey, ADP found that only a quarter of UK workers were confident that their jobs would not be eliminated by AI. The percentage was lower globally, with 22 per cent of respondents believing they were secure in their current job. 

Those holding the most senior roles were reportedly the least affected by feelings of job insecurity: more than a third (35 per cent) of C-suite executives were confident their job was safe, 23 per cent of middle management and 18 per cent of individual contributors felt safe. 

Respondents working in repetitive roles had particularly acute concern around job security, with just 16 per cent feeling confident that their job would be safe. In contrast, 30 per cent of knowledge workers stated that they felt their role was unthreatened by AI. 

Dr. Nela Richardson - chief economist and ESG officer at ADP - said, “Advances in AI, changing demographics and economic uncertainty have set the labour market on an uncharted path and given rise to new challenges.” 

Higher levels of insecurity were also reportedly found to be impacting employee engagement and productivity, as workers direct more time and energy to finding alternative employment.

According to ADP’s findings, those who felt safe in their job were six times more likely to be fully engaged, motivated and committed, and were three times more likely to say they were highly productive. 

“Our data reveals a high level of worker unease and job insecurity, which inevitably affects not just work, but also life outside of work,” Dr. Richardson said. 

Source: People Management

(Link and quotes via original reporting)