A considerable number of employees harbor fears that artificial intelligence may displace them from their jobs, and they remain insufficiently prepared to leverage emerging technologies.
This assessment stems from a recent study by the consulting firm Forrester, as reported by The Register.
Forrester’s findings indicate that a low level of staff preparedness constitutes the primary hurdle to the successful integration of AI within organizations. Despite this, 68% of firms are already deploying generative AI in operational applications, and 81% of executives deem AI assistants crucial for enhancing work efficiency. Nevertheless, the pace at which personnel are adjusting to these new tools is sluggish.
The researchers devised an “AI Readiness Quotient” (AIQ) designed to measure the preparedness levels of individual employees, teams, and entire organizations for adopting the technology. It was discovered that across the US, UK, Germany, France, and Australia, no substantial progress in this area was achieved over the past year.
Forrester identified two main contributing factors. Firstly, the majority of businesses are failing to effectively train their workforce on AI tools. The proportion of enterprises offering in-house training for non-technical staff saw only a minor uptick, moving from 47% in 2024 to 51% in 2025. The situation is even more concerning regarding rapid development training—a vital skill for generative AI usage—with only 23% of companies providing such programs.
The second factor is employee anxiety over job losses resulting from AI implementation. Although widespread layoffs directly attributable to AI did not materialize in 2025, employee apprehension remains high. This concern is not unfounded, as many executives openly express intentions to reduce headcount using AI.
According to last year’s survey, 51% of UK business leaders viewed AI as a means to cut personnel expenditures. A separate survey revealed that 43% of executives anticipated a reduction in entry-level positions within a year due to AI, while 50% explicitly stated that the technology aids them in streamlining their workforce size.
Forrester data shows that 43% of workers are worried that widespread job losses due to automation will occur within the next five years. A quarter of those surveyed believe this threat might affect them personally.
Consequently, analysts advise companies to allocate resources towards employee education and engagement initiatives to boost AI proficiency. This approach is expected to dispel misconceptions about the technology and alleviate the panic surrounding potential redundancies.
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