Bridging the AI Adoption Gap in the Workplace – Half Canadians Never Used AI for Work

A recent report by PwC highlights a significant challenge in the workplace: despite the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), many employees are reluctant to embrace this technology.

PwC’s findings reveal that only 38% of workers anticipate that technological advancements will affect their jobs in the coming three years. In contrast, 50% of employers view technological change as the primary driver of transformation in how they create, deliver, and capture value during the same period.

This disconnect is alarming, especially since many business leaders fear their companies may not survive the next decade without significant change. They emphasize the critical need for employees to understand and engage with these challenges to help steer the company in a new direction. However, 41% of Canadian workers admit they do not see the necessity for change.

Despite 90% of employers prioritizing technological adaptation, nearly half (48%) believe their workforce is ill-prepared to effectively utilize AI or GenAI, according to a previous Deloitte report. The current usage of AI among employees is sparse, with Canadian workers particularly lagging behind their global peers. Only 10% of Canadians use AI regularly, while 50% have never used it at all. Globally, 37% of workers have never experimented with AI in their jobs.

PwC’s AI Jobs Barometer report, which examined over 500 million job postings worldwide, indicates that the demand for AI-related skills has nearly doubled from 2012 to 2023. Jobs with higher AI exposure have seen a notable shift in required skills, underscoring the need for workers, especially those in AI-intensive roles, to acquire new competencies to stay relevant.

Furthermore, very few professionals in change management, GenAI strategy, or data analytics currently utilize AI. Even with AI’s potential benefits, Canadian C-level executives are approaching its adoption cautiously. According to a report by The Conference Board of Canada, only 19.6% of Canadian executives have integrated AI into their operations. Incremental adoption seems to be the favored strategy, with 12.5% planning immediate implementation in select areas and 51.2% considering future adoption.

To foster AI adoption among employees, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recommends:

• • Providing a clear framework for AI use.
  • Selecting appropriate tools and implementing them gradually.
  • Encouraging experimentation.

By actively promoting and integrating AI into business practices, employers can inspire their workforce to embrace these technologies, driving organizational innovation and growth.

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