New research reveals a strong confidence among UK employers towards AI investment despite potential regulatory changes.
- Over a third of UK employers are actively investing in AI technology, with a significant proportion planning to increase usage.
- While AI investment is in the spotlight, it is not the predominant concern for most European businesses this year.
- A notable disconnect exists between business ambitions and employee concerns regarding AI’s impact on job security.
- Leadership in AI adoption with effective change management is essential for future success.
In recent findings from research conducted by SD Worx, a leading European HR solutions provider, more than a third of UK employers are reported to be actively engaged in investing in generative AI technologies. This investment enthusiasm persists even as the UK government begins to formalise new legislation aimed at regulating AI, driven by concerns from competition watchdogs.
Despite the robust business confidence in AI, employee sentiment does not mirror this optimism. The research indicates that about 30% of UK employees are apprehensive about the potential redundancy of their roles due to advancements in AI, highlighting a significant disconnect between business objectives and employee security concerns.
The study surveyed 5,000 businesses and 18,000 employees across various European nations, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. The UK is among the top three countries in Europe leading with a 35% employer interest in AI, surpassed by Poland’s 41.8% and Italy’s 36.2%. However, for many European businesses, AI does not yet rank as a top boardroom priority, with issues like well-being, recruitment, and employee retention taking precedence.
Interestingly, while AI ranks low among business priorities in other areas such as payroll, over 20% of organisations have already implemented AI technologies within their payroll systems. In Poland and Italy, this trend is more pronounced. Typical applications of AI in payroll include the monitoring of legislation, data validation, and anomaly detection.
Laura Miller, the UK People Country Leader at SD Worx, summarised the current sentiment around AI in workplaces as mixed. She emphasised the necessity for business leaders to demonstrate strong leadership by incorporating effective change management and upskilling strategies within AI deployment frameworks to ensure a smoother transition that aligns both business goals and workforce readiness.
AI continues to be a significant focal point for UK businesses, demanding strategic leadership to align technological growth with workforce confidence.
