While 70% of employees already use AI in their roles, one-third admit they don’t have the necessary soft skills to work effectively with these tools, according to research from GoodHabitz and Censuswide.
By Maggie Mancini
One in five (19%) U.K. employees—which make up 6.3 million workers—have received no real training from their organisations on how to work and collaborate effectively using AI tools, according to findings from GoodHabitz and Censuswide. The research exposes the disconnect: While 70% of U.K. employees are already using AI in their roles, over one-third (34%) admit they lack the necessary soft and human skills to work effectively with these tools.
Nearly half (48%) of employees say AI has increased the need for skills, with problem-solving (39%), critical thinking (38%), and analytical thinking (37%) identified as the most crucial. Further, 66% report that AI has enabled them to do things they couldn’t do before at work, underscoring the technology’s potential. On average, employees using AI save 37 minutes per day—equivalent to over 150 hours per year per employee.
Over two-thirds (68%) of employees feel they have some of the skills needed to work effectively with AI, but significant gaps remain. Almost half (47%) still prefer to rely on their own skills rather than AI tools, indicating a need for greater AI literacy and trust. Even more, 62% say using AI has increased their enjoyment of work, suggesting potential for improved job satisfaction and retention.
