Managers embrace AI, workers feel mixed depending on generation and profession, research shows
by CM staff
According to the research, workers say the greatest benefits of using generative AI on the job are automating time-consuming tasks.
Worker Optimism Toward AI (CNW Group/Robert Half Canada)
TORONTO — The use of generative AI has workers feeling a mixture of emotions about their skills and career prospects, research from Robert Half shows.
According to a survey of over 1,140 workers in Canada, 27 per cent think generative AI will have a positive impact on their career, compared to 17 per cent who worry it could make their skills obsolete. More than three in 10 respondents (32 per cent) feel generative AI will have no impact on their job prospects, and a quarter are unsure.
Gen Zers (46 per cent) and millennials (36 per cent) are more optimistic about generative AI than Gen Xers (20 per cent) and baby boomers (16 per cent).
More than six in 10 Gen Zers (63 per cent) use or plan to use AI to help with improving their LinkedIn or online profiles, 61 per cent for resume writing and keyword optimization, and 60 per cent for assistance with cover letters, interview preparation, and job searches. This is compared to significantly smaller numbers of millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers who use or plan to use generative AI for assistance with their careers.
Technology (38 per cent) and marketing and creative (31 per cent) professionals are most likely to feel that generative AI will create more demand for their skills.
“Generative AI comes with many questions about both its potential and its risks, and it’s natural for professionals and businesses to have mixed feelings about its impact,” said David King, Senior Managing Director, Robert Half, Canada and South America. “Understanding how it can be leveraged for both workers’ and employers’ benefit, along with considering its drawbacks, is crucial at this time.”
According to the research, workers say the greatest benefits of using generative AI on the job are automating time-consuming tasks (36 per cent) and increasing efficiency and productivity (24 per cent). Many companies see the upside of leveraging generative AI in the workplace, too.
“Being receptive to the potential of generative AI—such as alleviating time-consuming routine tasks and freeing up bandwidth for more stimulating projects—is important. However, it will require the implementation of clear guidelines and best practices to ensure responsible use,” King added.
