Just one in 10 UK workers feel they have AI skills, further evidencing the digital skills crisis currently facing the UK, revealed a survey carried out by Salesforce.
Nearly a quarter of respondents rank AI skills as among the top three most important digital skills right now, and believe AI will be the most important skill to have over the next five years. Yet only half understand how this technology will impact their work and job.
With the rise of transformative technologies like generative AI, this represents a growing concern for UK business, noted the report. Generative AI has the potential to fundamentally transform how work gets done across all industries and workers agree that AI skills are important.
LACK OF DIGITAL CONFIDENCE
However, three-quarters (75%) of UK workers say they do not feel ready to operate in a digital world. And whilst the same percentage report using digital skills in their day-to-day, few report skills beyond collaboration technology, digital administration, and digital project management. Salesforce’s research points to a lack of digital confidence across the UK workforce, and the need for business to better explain just how accessible digital skills can be – especially those related to AI.
“UK workers report AI, coding and app development as the fastest growing and most in-demand digital skills today. But not everyone needs to learn how to code in the generative AI era,” said Zahra Bahrololoumi, CEO of Salesforce UKI. “Like all technology, generative AI will need deep machine learning experts and engineers as much as it will creatives and storytellers – people who understand how to work alongside AI, building on the content it generates. It’s about showing people where exactly, and often how easily, they can fit into the digital-first workplace.”
AI VALUE
More UK workers are excited about generative AI’s use in their workplace (49%) than worried about it replacing them in their job (38%). This is in line with interest from management: almost half (46%) of UK people leaders say that their company is considering ways to use generative AI. Workers clearly recognise that the path forward requires reskilling, and want to be part of it. An emphatic 96% believe businesses should prioritise AI skills as part of the strategy to develop their workforce.
“This is a watershed moment for the tech industry. Digital transformation remains firmly at the top of the CEO agenda and many leaders that I speak to see AI as a game changer for their business – a tool to better connect with their customers, personalise experiences, and operate more efficiently,” highlighted Bahrololoumi. “However, AI is only as good as the data that serves it and the people that work with it. Without the necessary skills and knowledge of how to use generative AI and integrate this technology effectively and responsibly, businesses will continue to face barriers to successful implementation.”
SKILLS-BASED HIRING
The vast majority (87%) of UK workers consider skills-based experience more important than a degree when trying to land a job in today’s market. This reflects a shift by companies toward skills-based hiring at all levels. Most people leaders (82%) surveyed say that skills are the most important attribute when evaluating candidates. Only 18% believe that relevant degrees are the most important.
It’s a transformative approach to recruitment that stands to deliver better business performance in several areas. Over half of people leaders (55%) cite talent retention as a key business benefit to skills-based hiring. Increased knowledge sharing (48%) and workforce diversity (42%) also rank highly. Additionally, most people leaders believe that prioritising employees’ digital skills development will have similarly positive impacts on business performance – including increased productivity (47%), team performance (43%), and problem-solving capabilities (40%).
Employees rank digital skills training as the second most important workplace benefit, over and above pay bonuses and wellbeing benefits. How people work, and what they value about their jobs, is fundamentally changing in the digital-first era.
WIDENING DIGITAL SKILLS GAP
Salesforce is urging UK business and government to work together to establish a national online digital skills platform to show people where to access the training they need. The company is providing skills-based training modules on Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform. Trailhead is available to everyone and can take them from a low level of technical knowledge into a Salesforce role in as little as six months. It is currently helping more than five million people learn in-demand skills.
“As AI, data and automation innovation accelerates, so too will the urgency for UK businesses to adapt. By taking action to close the digital skills gap now we can better support the millions of UK workers to navigate this new era,” concluded Bahrololoumi.
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