More than half of U.S. workers are beginning to feel the effects of AI on the job and in future career trajectories, but most feel unprepared
BOSTON, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Despite a significant uptick in the number of workers and learners feeling the effects of artificial intelligence (AI), AI training has yet to keep pace, according to a national Jobs for the Future (JFF) survey conducted by AudienceNet. According to the survey, the percentage of Americans using AI at work has increased from just 8% in 2023 to more than one-third (35%) of respondents. Learners — respondents currently enrolled in education or training — are even more likely to use AI, with nearly six in 10 (59%) reporting use at least weekly.
Despite this rise in use, relatively few workers are receiving AI training. Just 31% of workers said their employer-provided training on AI tools, and AI use appears to be largely driven by individuals. A majority of respondents (60%) report using AI primarily for self-directed learning. Nearly 1 in 5 workers on the job report tapping into AI on their own initiative.
“AI should make us all better off by creating quality jobs, pathways to entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, and opportunities to unleash human agency and potential,” said Kristina Francis, Executive Director, JFFLabs. “With AI already transforming the future of work and learning, access to training, tools, and the opportunity to help shape this technology are more critical than ever—and we risk widening divides if we don’t act now.”
Key findings from the new survey include:
AI usage is growing on the job, but AI training isn’t keeping up.
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The percentage of workers using AI has increased from 8% to 35% in just two years. But more than half (56%) say they still don’t feel prepared to use AI at work.
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57% of workers reported feeling some or a great deal of impact from AI on their jobs. The most commonly reported impacts include reducing manual work and automating repetitive or routine tasks.
The use of AI is growing in the classroom as well.
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59% of learners report using AI in their education or training at least weekly. In 2023, only 15% of learners reported using AI tools in their studies on their own initiative.
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57% of learners report their instructors have incorporated AI in the classroom, up from 13% in 2023.
AI use is being driven by individuals more than by organizations.
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Respondents’ most common use of AI was for self-directed learning (60%).
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On-the-job, workers are twice as likely to be using AI at their own initiative (20%) than at their employer’s direction (11%).
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One in twelve respondents used AI to start or grow a business (8%).
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Only 16% of respondents had access to paid AI tools from their employer or education institution; 10% of the general population and 15% of respondents of color said they were paying for AI tools out of pocket.
