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We’re used to reading headlines about AI leading to job losses, but a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers claims that daily generative AI users feel their job is more secure.
PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey interviewed almost 50,000 workers from 48 different countries and shows a surprising enthusiasm for AI.
Compared to infrequent users, daily users of generative AI reported far higher tangible benefits to productivity (92% vs 58%), job security (58% vs 36%) and even salary (52% vs 32%).
Frequent users of AI also believed that the technology improved the quality of their work (90%) much more than infrequent users (65%), although whether employers shared that opinion is not disclosed by the survey.
Although there certainly appears to be a strong belief in the benefits of AI, the survey revealed that frequent usage is still far from widespread. Only 14% of those surveyed said they used generative AI on a daily basis. Unsurprisingly, daily usage was more common among office workers (19%) than it was among manual workers (5%).
There also appears to be a large degree of scepticism about AI’s benefits among the workforce at large. Fewer than half expect technology to significantly impact their jobs over the next three years, although 70% of daily GenAI users do expect major change.
Confidence in AI tools also varies depending on seniority within companies. Recent research has revealed a decline in entry-level jobs as a consequence of increased AI usage. Almost two thirds of the senior executives surveyed felt that they would have control over the ways technology impacts their work in the future, while only 35% of non-managers shared that confidence.
Of the managers surveyed by PwC, 38% believed technology would likely reduce the number of entry-level jobs, with 30% believing it would actually increase job openings.
Still, amid the headlines of AI leading to mass job losses – with women and low-skilled workers most likely to be affected – PwC says companies need to do more to reassure workers.
“This isn’t just a technology story; it’s a people story,” said Nicki Wakefield, global clients & industries leader at PwC. “Workers thrive when they understand the plan – alignment with leadership sees motivation rise by 78%.
“In a year of rising financial strain and many feeling overwhelmed, leaders must redesign work and provide clarity and confidence: simple everyday use cases, strong guardrails, and the skills, trust and support that turn AI from hype into real help.”
