New glass ceiling as AI rises in the workplace

The rise of AI will create a new ‘glass ceiling’ that sees non-graduates, silver surfers and those in lower socio-economic brackets being left behind according to the latest research from specialist recruitment firm, Robert Half.

Robert Half Jobs Confidence Index (JCI) – an economic confidence tracker produced in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) reveals graduates and those completing further education are being set up for better success in the AI revolution, with 31% expecting access to training through work and 33% reskilling independently in the next two years. In comparison, just 19% of non-graduates plan to independently upskill and only 18% expect access to this through their employer between now and 2026.

Looking further down the line, 50% of graduates are planning to access training through industry and professional member bodies in the next five years, with just 37% of non-graduates planning to upskill via these channels.  This suggests that those without a degree or further education will be left behind in the AI revolution, which will only exacerbate both skills shortages and the widely reported social disparities and economic inactivity rates that the UK is experiencing with 45% of the UK workforce expressing concern that AI will disrupt their careers in the next six to ten years.

“AI is going to create a seismic shift in the workforce, and firms will need to empower their workers through upskilling and reskilling to enable them to better leverage AI tools that help drive business value, improve efficiency and shape the future of success,” comments Chris Lawton, Vice President Permanent Placements UK & Ireland, Robert Half.  “However, our data suggests that there is currently the potential for a disparity in access to training that could disadvantage those without further education, older workers or those in less advantaged social groupings.  The announcement in the Spring Budget that the Government is creating a £7.4 million upskilling fund pilot to increase AI skills access for SMEs is just the first step of what is required.  Nonetheless, if such training isn’t being well targeted across the workforce, then true societal impact is at risk of being limited.

It’s not just a lack of access to training that is set to disadvantage non-graduates, according to the JCI there also appears to be a gap in recognition of the impact of AI and skills between those with a degree and those without.  More than half (52%) of graduates indicated they are concerned about the impact of AI on their job over the next six to ten years, compared to just a third (33%) of non-graduates.  

Elsewhere, the data also suggests that older workers are at risk of being pushed out of the workforce due to AI.  Just 19% of over 55’s are seeking AI training themselves over the next few years while only 18% are looking for this through their employers.  With a significant proportion of this generation leaving the workforce during Covid – and the Government seeking to entice them back – these statistics paint a concerning picture given the Bank of England governor is signalling the UK economy is near or at full employment.

“Unless addressed in a structured way, the systemic tech skills shortages the UK is facing are at risk of being exacerbated as per the findings in our JCI.  Businesses, education institutions, industry bodies and policy makers need to work together to ensure no-one is left behind due to a lack of access to training,” comments Lawton.