Those working in the capital most concerned about AI affecting their jobs

Those who work in London are more concerned than any other region when it comes to how AI will affect their career.

A new survey revealed that 49% of workers in the capital are worried that AI will have a direct effect on their jobs within the next 12 months.

As a result of this, the Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index (JCI) found that 60% of Londoners are now planning to invest in their own AI related training in the next five years.

Commenting on the findings, Chris Lawton, Vice President Permanent Placements UK & Ireland at Robert Half, said, “AI is on the cusp of creating a seismic shift in the workforce, but Londoners are clearly feeling the pressure more than anyone else, likely driven by the jobs in the Capital being weighted more towards professional and financial services than elsewhere in the country.

“With recent statistics suggesting job losses will be in the millions due to the rise of AI, it’s understandable that so many are hedging their bets and seeking to retrain and reskill. However, the emphasis shouldn’t just be on individuals supporting their own training. Businesses will ultimately be the ones to benefit from the best AI skills and potentially lose out due to a lack of the right resources.

“Employers must act now and ‘talent map’ their human capital, identifying skills gaps and ways to fill them – be it by internal upskilling programmes, bringing in interim experts for knowledge-sharing, or working with third sector organisations to explore new routes to acquiring unique and diverse talent.

“And with AI having the potential to impact every aspect of an organisation, employees will need to upskill sooner rather than later to secure their future employability. The notion of life-long learning and development has never been more critical.”

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