A new report from Skills England has indicated that many employers are struggling to keep pace with AI-related changes. The report says, “AI is reshaping the world of work across sectors, but without the right skills, too many people and businesses risk being left behind.”
The report identifies sectors that face particular challenges. For instance, in Construction, opportunities such as drone surveying and augmented-reality training are emerging, but low digital literacy remains a barrier. Within the Creative Industries, freelancers and small firms are adopting AI tools for content creation but often without formal training, raising concerns about quality and originality. In addition, Advanced Manufacturing is already seeing benefits from automation and predictive maintenance but faces a growing skills gap as its workforce ages.
A consistent theme across all business sectors seems to be uncertainty over what is meant by “AI skills” and what staff need to learn.
Three new tools for employers
The ‘AI skills for the UK workforce’ report introduces three new tools that could help businesses build confidence and capability in using AI responsibly. These tools are designed to make AI more accessible to employers, particularly smaller businesses that often lack the dedicated HR or training teams of larger organisations.
The AI Skills Framework – identifies the technical, responsible and non-technical skills needed across different job roles and levels.
The AI Skills Adoption Pathway Model – shows how businesses typically progress from early awareness to strategic adoption of AI.
The Employer AI Adoption Checklist – a practical tool to help businesses assess their AI skills readiness, identify workforce gaps and plan training.
Other support available
This year, many of the government’s Skills Bootcamps have a focus on AI. These programmes are offered free to individuals to help them gain skills that will enhance their careers, and are available across a variety of sectors, delivered either online or in person.
To find out more, the full AI Skills for the UK Workforce report and supporting tools are available through Skills England.
