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Millions of UK employees not trained properly on how to work with AI
One in five ( 19 %) UK employees , equating to 6.31 million workers , have received no real training from their organisations on how to work and collaborate effectively with AI tools , according to latest findings from GoodHabitz , a leading online learning provider with a unique focus on advancing human skills , sometimes referred to as soft skills .
The research , conducted in conjunction with Censuswide , exposes the disconnect : while 70 % of UK employees are already using AI in their roles , over a third ( 34 %) admit they lack the necessary soft and human skills to work effectively with these tools .
“ The research shows that we are in a really tough spot right now ,” said Chris Chen , Chief Technology Officer of GoodHabitz . “ AI is changing everything about how we work and think , but most of our people aren ’ t ready for it . And it ’ s not just about knowing how to use AI tools . We need to focus on the skills that make human pairing with AI truly impactful – like effective communication , understanding emotions , complex problems analysis and seamless integration into team workflows . If we don ’ t act fast to train our workforce , UK companies will struggle to keep up with the rest of the world .”
Ed Monk , CEO of the Learning and Performance Institute ( LPI ), said “ This research is a wake-up call for UK businesses . AI has enormous potential to enhance productivity , but without the right skills , that potential will be wasted .”
Monk continued : “ We need to ensure that every employee , regardless of their role , is equipped with the training they need not only to use AI tools but to complement them with uniquely human capabilities like critical thinking and adaptability . Investing in human-centred skills alongside AI literacy will be key to staying competitive in the global market .”
The research highlights the need for a national upskilling initiative :
• Forty-eight percent 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 .
• Sixty-six percent report that AI has enabled them to do things they couldn ’ t do before at work , underscoring the technology ’ s transformative potential .
• On average , employees using AI save 37 minutes per day – equivalent to over 150 hours per year per employee .
“ We ’ ve got a big job ahead of us , but it ’ s also a great chance to get ahead ,” Chen added . “ UK companies need to start to boost training their people with AI intimacy now . And the businesses that do , will have a big advantage in the future when AI is everywhere .”
GoodHabitz is tackling this challenge head-on with its AI-enhanced learning platform , which uses self-assessments to generate personalised course recommendations for employee training tailored to their needs . x
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