More than a quarter (27%) of UK workers are worried their jobs could disappear in the next five years as a result of artificial intelligence, according to a survey by recruitment company Randstad. The poll of 27,000 workers across 35 countries found that two-thirds (66%) of UK employers had invested in AI in the past 12 months, while over half (56%) of employees said companies were encouraging the use of AI tools.
The survey highlighted a 'mismatched AI expectations' between employers and staff. Just under half (45%) of UK office workers believed AI would benefit companies more than employees. Younger workers, particularly Generation Z, were most concerned about AI's impact and their ability to adapt, while baby boomers showed greater confidence.
Randstad's CEO Sander van 't Noordende said: 'AI is not a rival to labour; it should be seen as key to augmenting tasks and highlighting the importance of roles that only people can do.' He warned of an 'AI reality gap', with one in five workers believing AI will have limited impact on their tasks.
Around 55% of UK workers reported a positive impact on productivity from AI. However, the shift is also affecting roles globally, with job vacancies requiring 'AI agent' skills rising by 1,587% over the past year. JP Morgan's boss Jamie Dimon cautioned that governments and businesses must help displaced workers or risk 'civil unrest'.
