Working adults are unconcerned about AI risk to jobs, new data finds

Almost two in three (60%) working adults are not worried about artificial intelligence replacing or significantly changing their jobs despite evidence to the contrary, new research has found.

Four in 10 (41%) are not considering undertaking job-related training in the next 12 months,, polling conducted for the Association of Colleges by J L Partners has found.

However, extensive research by respected organisations indicates millions of workers will be impacted by both AI and the green transition.

Research published by the National Foundation for Education Research, for example, projected that the adoption of new technologies in the labour market would lead to around two million jobs being displaced by 2035. And the Place-based Climate Action Network’s Just Transition Jobs Tracker analysis suggests that one in five workers, more than six million jobs in total, will be affected by the transition to a net-zero carbon economy, with around three million workers requiring upskilling and around three million in high demand.

The polling data published by AoC today also reveals significant differences in the views of people by salary levels, ethnicity and education level.

Just one in five of those aged 55 and over said they were worried about AI, compared with over half (52%) of 25 to 34-year-olds. And one third of non-graduates said they were concerned, compared to nearly half of graduates, with white respondents being less concerned than BAME respondents, 34% compared to 58% respectively.

There are also big differences in attitudes to training to help adjust to the changing workplace, with just 30% of those earning up to £28,000 saying they would “seriously” or “fairly likely” consider undertaking job-related training, compared to 50% of those earning £48,001 or more.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “ AI and the green transition will have a seismic impact on literally millions of working people, so it’s really worrying that our research shows that adults, especially those who are on low wages, aren’t actively pursuing training with their employer or elsewhere to ensure they can keep their jobs.

“This research shows a huge lack of awareness of the changes coming, and large numbers of adults not positively viewing training as a way to learn new skills. I am very worried that lots of people are going to miss out on getting the skills they need to stay relevant, remain productive, and to progress in their careers.

“The cuts we have seen in government investment in adult learning and the reductions in employer investment in training and development are part of a weak culture of lifelong learning in this country. That really does need to change if we are to increase the numbers of people in work and improve productivity – both ambitions the government understands and both outcomes that are needed for a stronger and more inclusive economy.

“We already have record numbers of people out of work in the UK, 9 million according to recent ONS figures, and productivity standing still at best. Without more investment in adults, employers will struggle, the economy will remain weak and people will stay unemployed longer.”

In response to the urgent need for increased attention and funding on adult education the AoC has today launched a new campaign, Adult Learning Pays, which highlights the valuable role adult education has in improving lives, supporting economic growth and strengthening society.

Public funding for adult education and training has declined significantly since the early 2000s. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, for example, found that funding had fallen by two-thirds (66%) from £5.1 billion in the early 2000s to £1.7 billion in 2023/24. And in March 2025, the government announced a six per cent “affordability” cut in adult education funding for 2026, with the recently published Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper confirming there was no additional funding for adult skills.

The government’s employer skills survey in 2024 found employer spending on workforce training per employee is falling – from a low base by international standards – and is skewed towards better qualified staff.

Today’s polling echoes this and reveals low confidence in employers giving workers the training they need to progress.

Overall, between a third and a quarter (34% and 27%) of working adults feel they do not receive enough training to progress in their career or to succeed in their current role respectively.

The data also found that 37% of women said they didn’t receive enough training from their employer to progress in their career, compared to 31% of men, and 30% of women said they didn’t receive enough training to succeed in their current job role, compared to 24% of men.

There was also a divide by income, with those on low-mid range salaries 8% to 9% more likely to say they do not receive enough training to progress in their career compared to high earners.

Notes to editors

The polling had 1,505 respondents and ran from 31 October to 2 November 2025.

Jobs lost to technology set to be replaced by higher skilled and healthcare roles by 2035 - NFER

Tracking local employment in the green economy: The PCAN Just Transition Jobs Tracker | Place Based Climate Action Network