- New Data Reveals Most Workers Fear Potential Impact of AI on Their Jobs
- Employees who feel secure in their role are more productive and engaged
- Employers must prioritize communication and invest in training and development
New data from ADP’s People at Work 2026 report, which covers more than 39,000 working adults in 36 markets, confirms that most workers are still very concerned about the impact of AI on their jobs, even though current tangible impacts are relatively minimal.
Only one in four UK workers strongly agree that their job is not at risk of being replaced, and this falls to around one in five (21%) across Europe as a whole and 22% globally.
The ADP report highlights a significant disconnect between employment figures, which are generally quite good, and employees’ personal expectations for the future of their role.
Poor communication on AI creates a trust deficit
“The world of work is changing rapidly and our findings reveal a gap between what the labor market is telling us and what employees are feeling,” said Jeff Phipps, senior vice president and general manager of ADP UK&NI, emphasizing that “employment is strong”.
The report, one of the most comprehensive of its kind, shows that trust actually varies significantly depending on the nature of an employee’s role, with knowledge workers feeling more confident. Around one in three UK knowledge workers (34%) feel their job is secure, but only 19% of UK workers in repetitive roles feel safe.
But the feeling of job security does not only affect a worker’s satisfaction: it can also have an impact on the way they work and on the productivity perceived by the employer. Workers who feel their job is secure are 6 times more likely to be fully engaged at work and about 3 times more likely to report high productivity.
Workers who feel safe are also about 2 times more likely to say they have no plans to leave their employer.
Greater job security creates higher performing workers
It appears that greater confidence in the future may allow employees to focus more on their work and increase their contributions, indicating a clear need for positive communication from management.
ADP advises employers to be transparent about any organizational and technological changes and explain how employees’ roles might be affected so they don’t instantly assume their jobs might be at risk. The report also places responsibility for training and development on employers.
“People want to know that there is a place for them as their organization evolves and that they will be supported to get there,” Phipps added.
The report also found that the larger the company, the less likely a worker is to feel confident. Large companies have a trust level of 22%, compared to 36% for medium-sized companies. In Europe, the opposite is true, proving that the world is still struggling to master AI communication and training, regardless of geography or company size.
“The companies that take this seriously — investing in skills and being honest about change — are the ones that see the benefits in how people perform and whether they stay,” Phipps said, urging companies to consider much more than just implementing technology in their AI strategies because they risk losing workers.
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