Over half of UK adults now fear that artificial intelligence will either take their jobs outright or significantly alter them, according to a Trades Union Congress survey. The anxiety is particularly strong among younger employees, with nearly two-thirds of those aged 25 to 34 expressing concern about how AI will affect their future employment prospects. These findings arrive against a backdrop of rising unemployment, now at a four-year high of 4.7 per cent, and recent announcements by major firms such as BT, Amazon and Microsoft that AI could reshape, and in some cases reduce, parts of their workforce.
Yet the issue extends beyond fears of redundancy. Workers are increasingly demanding a say in how AI is introduced into their workplaces, with only a small minority opposed to employee involvement in deployment decisions. The TUC has urged both government and industry to take a “worker-first” approach, recommending that public AI funding be tied to job security commitments, retraining schemes, and guarantees that productivity gains are shared rather than hoarded. For many employees, the question is not whether AI will arrive, but whether its benefits will be equitably distributed.
Policymakers appear alert to the challenge. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has proposed an ambitious plan to provide AI training for 7.5 million workers by 2030, emphasising that even short, focused learning modules could close generational skill gaps and prepare employees for a rapidly evolving economy. This move signals recognition that preparing the workforce for technological disruption is as critical as fostering innovation itself.
For the global technology sector, the lesson is straightforward: the success of AI adoption depends not only on technical advances but also on public trust. Businesses that engage their employees, invest in upskilling, and align innovation with social responsibility will be best placed to avoid backlash and unlock sustainable value. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in ensuring that artificial intelligence enhances work rather than eroding it.
