Mind the gap: Workers are desperate for AI upskilling, but bosses aren’t meeting their needs

The global workforce knows that AI is critical for their future, but they don’t think their employers are doing enough to teach them in these new tech skills.

Around 79% of workers want training in generative AI, according to a new report released by Oliver Wyman, a management consulting firm. But only 64% of workers think they’re receiving the training they need, and 57% found their training to be inadequate.

There’s a two-pronged reason for that gap, according to Ana Kreacic, Oliver Wyman’s chief knowledge officer: The new technology is part of the zeitgeist now, and people use chatbots to help with their work on an individual basis. But about 70% of companies are still in the early stages when it comes to developing AI, according to the report, and most don’t have a coherent plan yet for how employees should be using AI at work. 

“Employees have adopted the technology so quickly,” she says, referencing the popularity of AI chatbots used for tasks like writing emails and synthesizing documents. “People are moving ahead on the productivity gains, while organizations are basically still in proof-of-concept and pilots.” Part of the hesitancy on behalf of employers when it comes to reskilling, according to Kreacic, is that they want their company-wide AI to mature before training workers. 

The AI training gap is also apparent when it comes to different priorities between workers and bosses. While employees ranked AI their top reskilling priority, employers ranked AI training as the fourth most important, behind softer skills like analytical and creative thinking, leadership, and social influence. “It’s a little bit of a disconnect,” Kreacic says.

That disconnect, coupled with a lack of communication from managers, is adding to a general sense of unease among employees. Around 57% of workers concerned with AI automation were more likely to report feeling a decline in productivity and motivation, compared to those who were unconcerned, and 68% reported feeling more tense or stressed. 

To mitigate this AI anxiety, Kreacic thinks that employers and human resource officers need to step up and take charge. 

“You can’t just sit it out and wait,” she says. “Diving in now, addressing the anxieties head-on, will alleviate that anxiety.” She recommends that companies foster open conversations and remove guardrails when it comes to workers learning more about generative AI.

“I have high hopes that we are going to move towards that in the next year,” she adds.

Emma Burleigh
emma.burleigh@fortune.com

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